View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by OPUS: Open Uleth Scholarship - University of Lethbridge Research Repository University of Lethbridge Research Repository OPUS https://opus.uleth.ca Theses Arts and Science, Faculty of Veldman, Kimberley Treena 2016 A quasi-experimental study measuring the effect of dimensional analysis on undergraduate nurses' level of self-efficacy in medication calculations https://hdl.handle.net/10133/4571 Downloaded from OPUS, University of Lethbridge Research Repository A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY MEASURING THE EFFECT OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS ON UNDERGRADUATE NURSES’ LEVEL OF SELF-EFFICACY IN MEDICATION CALCULATIONS KIMBERLEY TREENA VELDMAN Bachelor of Science, University of Lethbridge, 2014 A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of the University of Lethbridge in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF SCIENCE Faculty of Health Sciences University of Lethbridge LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA, CANADA © Kimberley Treena Veldman, 2016 A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY MEASURING THE EFFECT OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS ON UNDERGRADUATE NURSES’ LEVEL OF SELF- EFFICACY IN MEDICATION CALCULATIONS KIMBERLEY TREENA VELDMAN Date of Defence: July 25, 2016 Dr. Monique Sedgwick Associate Professor Ph.D. Supervisor Dr. Mark Pijl Zieber Assistant Professor Ph.D. Thesis Examination Committee Member Dr. Olu Awosoga Assistant Professor Ph.D. Thesis Examination Committee Member Dr. Lance Grigg Associate Professor Ph.D. External Examiner University of Lethbridge Faculty of Education Dr. Sharon Yanicki Assistant Professor Ph.D. Chair, Thesis Examination Committee ABSTRACT The instructional approach of dimensional analysis has been identified as an effective method for promoting conceptual understanding and decreasing calculation errors of nursing students. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of dimensional analysis in enhancing the mathematics self-efficacy levels of undergraduate nursing students. Using a quasi-experimental design, the Nursing Students Self-Efficacy for Mathematics tool was administered to 147 second-year nursing students enrolled in two different nursing programs in Alberta. One program used dimensional analysis, while the other program used the formula method to teach mathematical calculations. The findings demonstrate no difference in self-efficacy levels between the group being taught dimensional analysis and the group that was taught an alternative method. However, increased age, male gender, and higher grades received in high school mathematics contributed significantly to increased levels of self-efficacy. A discussion of the implications and recommendations for future research and nursing education conclude the thesis. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis is dedicated first and foremost to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for blessing me with the opportunity to pursue this degree and the ability to complete this project. I would then like to extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Monique Sedgwick. Her patience, knowledge, support, and expertise were instrumental in guiding me through my research and completing my thesis. I would also like to thank the experts who served as my thesis committee members: Dr. Olu Awosoga, Dr. Mark Pijl Zieber, and Dr. Lance Grigg. I am truly grateful for all their expert advice and encouragement along the way. A special thanks again goes to Dr. Olu Awosoga, for his patience and expert statistical guidance, and Peter Kellett, for his generosity and willingness to assist me through my data analysis. I am gratefully indebted to all of these members for their invaluable contributions to this thesis. I must express my very profound gratitude to my parents, my boyfriend, siblings, and friends for providing me with unfailing support and continuous encouragement throughout my years of study and through the process of researching and writing this thesis. This accomplishment would not have been possible without them. I thank you all. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................1 Outlined Problem ...........................................................................................................2 Purpose of the Research and Research Question ...........................................................3 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................3 Independent Variable ...............................................................................................5 Dependent Variable .................................................................................................5 Research Significance ....................................................................................................5 Outline of the Thesis ......................................................................................................7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................8 Errors in Practice............................................................................................................8 Errors within Health Care ........................................................................................8 Medication Errors ..................................................................................................10 Medication Administration ....................................................................................13 Calculation Errors of Registered Nurses ................................................................14 Calculation Errors of Nursing Students .................................................................17 Summary ................................................................................................................21 Independent Variable: Dimensional Analysis .............................................................22 Mathematical Problem-Solving Methods ..............................................................22 Formula method ...............................................................................................22 Algorithmic-based instruction .........................................................................23 The triangle technique......................................................................................24 Multiple methods .............................................................................................25 Dimensional Analysis ............................................................................................26 Summary ................................................................................................................29 Dependent Variable: Self-Efficacy ..............................................................................29 The Concept of Self-Efficacy ................................................................................29 Self-Efficacy and Academic Performance .............................................................31 Self-Efficacy and Mathematical Ability ................................................................32 Self-Efficacy and Nursing Students .......................................................................34 Summary ................................................................................................................37 Intersection of Variables ..............................................................................................38 Chapter Summary ........................................................................................................39 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN .....................................................................41 Research Objective ......................................................................................................41 v Research Design, Advantages and Limitations ...........................................................42 Population and Sample ................................................................................................44 Intervention ..................................................................................................................45 Data Collection ............................................................................................................46 Survey Design ........................................................................................................46 Process of Data Collection .....................................................................................47 Instrument ....................................................................................................................48 Data Entry and Cleaning ..............................................................................................49 Ethical Considerations .................................................................................................50 Chapter Summary ........................................................................................................51