Systems Thinking for Transitions of Care: Reliability Testing for a Standardized Rubric

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a standardized rubric for systems thinking across transitions of care for clinical nurse specialists. Design: The design was a mixed-methods study using the Systems Awareness Model as a framework for bridging theory to practice. Methods: Content validity was determined using a content validity index. Reliability was established using statistical analysis with Cronbach’s α and intraclass correlation coefficient. Usability of the rubric was established using content analysis from focus group discussions about their experiences in using the rubric. Results: Content validity was established with a content validity ratio of 1.0. Statistical analysis showed a high interrater reliability (α = 0.99), and sections of the rubric showed a strong degree of reliability with α’s ranging from 0.88 to 1.00. Content analysis revealed several overall themes for usability of the rubric: clarity, objectivity, and detail. The area for improvement included adding more detail in the scholarly writing section. Conclusion: The research team recommends using the rubric to reflect application of systems thinking across transitions of care