Using Self Efficacy to Measure Undergraduate Students’ Confidence with Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (ORLHNS)

Abstract

Using self-efficacy to measure undergraduate students’ confidence with ENT.

Layla Hehir1,2, Patrick Dawes1,2, Megan Anakin3

1Dunedin Public Hospital, Southern District Health Board, New Zealand,

2Department of Surgical Sciences, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand

3Education Unit, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand

Introduction. General practitioners, emergency physicians, and paediatricians often provide otorhinolaryngology, head, and neck surgery (ORLHNS) care; however, they often feel unprepared for managing these conditions.1 Lack of confidence may reflect limited training opportunity to learn fundamental knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to manage ORLHNS conditions. The concept of self-efficacy is reported as a method for assessing confidence to manage ORLHNS conditions. 2

Aim. To investigate whether self-efficacy is useful for measuring undergraduate student confidence in ORLHNS.

Methods. A 30 item self-efficacy questionnaire was constructed requiring students to rate their confidence (0-100) to use fundamental knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with ORLHNS. It was administered to fourth-year undergraduate medical students before they commenced their ORLHNS run. Self-efficacy ratings were analysed to determine if they established a self-efficacy scale.

Results. Eighty students completed the questionnaire (100% response rate). The self-efficacy statements were found to be highly reliable (Cronbach alpha = .916). A factor analysis (principal component, varimax rotation) indicated that a one-factor solution was optimal; therefore, the contributions from the ORLHNS statements could be characterised as describing students’ confidence managing these conditions. Overall, student’s average self-efficacy rating was low (M = 32.61, SD = 25.97). The highest and lowest average ratings were for interpreting Rinne and Weber tests (M = 62.7, SD = 29.93), and performing flexible laryngoscopy on a manikin (M = 3.60, SD = 8.20), respectively.

Conclusion. Prior to undertaking an ORLHNS module, the student’s confidence to manage ORLHNS conditions is low. Understanding the variation in students’ confidence can be used to plan for differentiation in students’ learning experiences.

References

Ferguson GR, Bacila IA, Swamy M. Does current provision of undergraduate education prepare UK medical students in ENT? A systematic literature review. BMJ Open. 2016;6(4):e010054.

Bandura A. Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York, NY: Freeman. 1997.