Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Psychometric Validation of the Persian Version of the Clinical Reasoning Competency Scale (CRCS) for Nurses in Iran

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Evaluating nurses’ clinical reasoning skills is essential for identifying areas in need of enhancement in professional competency and for informing targeted educational interventions. Accordingly, the present study aimed to translate and rigorously evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Clinical Reasoning Competency Scale (CRCS).

Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional and multicenter design was employed in this methodological study. A total of 1100 nurses were recruited through convenience sampling from seven hospitals in Iran. Following the translation of the original CRCS into Persian, psychometric properties were systematically assessed in accordance with the COSMIN guidelines.

Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the factor loadings for all 22 items ranged from 0.62 to 0.88, with each loading achieving statistical significance. Moreover, the analysis identified three principal factors including plan setting, intervention strategy regulation, and self-instruction which collectively accounted for 60.52% of the total variance. The analysis yielded an overall Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89, demonstrating CRCS possesses strong internal consistency. At the subscale level, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were notably robust: 0.97 for plan setting, 0.96 for intervention strategy regulation and 0.94 for self-instruction.

Conclusion: The Persian version of CRCS has been validated as a reliable and well-founded tool. Consequently, it represents a valuable instrument for nurse managers seeking to assess clinical reasoning competency, thereby facilitating the identification of developmental needs and guiding the implementation of targeted interventions to enhance clinical reasoning and overall professional performance