Types of analysis of validation studies in nursing: scoping review

Abstract

Objective. To identify and map the types of analysis in nursing validation studies. Methods. This is a scoping review with collection carried out in July 2020. The following data extraction indicators were considered: year of publication, country of origin, type of study, level of evidence, scientific references for validation and types of analyses. Data were collected in the following bases: U.S. National Library of Medicine, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, SCOPUS, COCHRANE, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, CAPES Theses and Dissertation Portal, Education Resources Information Center, The National Library of Australia’s Trobe, Academic Archive Online, DART-Europe E-Theses Portal, Electronic Theses Online Service, Open Access Scientific Repository of Portugal, National ETD Portal, Theses Canada, Theses and dissertations from Latin America. Results. The sample consisted of 881 studies, with a predominance of articles (841; 95.5%), with a prevalence of publications in 2019 (152; 17.2%), of Brazilian origin (377; 42.8%), of the methodological study type (352; 39.9%). Polit and Beck stood out as the methodological reference (207; 23.5%) and Cronbach’s Alpha (421; 47.8%) as the statistical test. Regarding the type of analysis, the exploratory factor analysis and the content validation index stood out. Conclusion. The use of at least one method of analysis was evident in more than half of the studies, which implied the need to carry out several statistical tests in order to evaluate the validation of the instrument used and show its reliability.