# Development, Validation and Primary Application of a Competency‐Based Training Course Index System for Gynaecological Specialist Nurses in China: A Mixed‐Methods Study

## TL;DR

This study created and tested a training index system to evaluate and improve the skills of gynaecological specialist nurses in China.

## Contribution

A novel competency-based training index system for gynaecological specialist nurses was developed and validated using mixed methods.

## Key findings

- The training system includes four primary indices and 58 tertiary indexes for evaluating competency.
- Specialist nurses showed significant improvement in theoretical scores and self-assessed competency after training.
- Expert consultation yielded high authority coefficients and statistically significant results.

## Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish an indexing system for training courses based on post‐competency for gynaecological specialist nurses.

A mixed‐methods study.

We employed literature reviews and semi‐structured interviews to develop a preliminary index system. Subsequently, a two‐round Delphi consultation survey was conducted to get insights from 15 experts regarding the index for evaluating the post‐competency of gynaecological specialist nurses and to obtain qualitative feedback on their assessments. Following the finalisation of the competency index system, a 3‐month training programme was implemented with 75 specialist nurses to evaluate its practical application. These nurses completed the training and returned to their clinical duties after successfully passing the competency evaluation.

The comprehensive training course index system for post‐competency gynaecological specialist nurses comprises four primary indices: gynaecological‐specialised theoretical knowledge, gynaecological‐specialised practical skills, communication and coordination management skills and clinical thinking and research management skills. This system further includes 12 secondary indexes and 58 tertiary indexes. The response rates for the two expert consultation rounds were 100%. The expert authority coefficients were 0.943 and 0.942 in the initial and subsequent rounds of consultation, respectively. During the second round of consultation, the initial and subsequent indices of Kendall's coefficient of concordance were 0.210 and 0.257, respectively (p < 0.05). Seventy‐five specialist nurses in gynaecology completed 4 weeks of theoretical education and 8 weeks of practical training. The mean score of gynaecological specialist nurses on the theoretical examination increased from 65.4 before training to 91.2 after training (p < 0.001); the mean score on the self‐assessment of post‐competency rose from 39.5 prior to training to 86.8 subsequent to training (p < 0.001); the comparison of pre‐training and post‐training results was statistically significant.

The index system for the training course of gynaecological specialist nurses was designed in a logical and thorough manner, and the findings from its empirical study provided a foundation for the formation of a scientific and systematic gynaecology specialist nursing team.