The self-assessment of critical thinking disposition and the needs for training: a cross-sectional survey of clinical nurses
BackgroundCritical thinking is essential for nurses’ clinical decision-making and the delivery of safe, high-quality care, and is shaped by their critical thinking disposition. However, nurses demonstrate negative critical thinking dispositions, with limited evidence available on influencing factors...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1653991/full |
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| author | Kailun Gao Kailun Gao Xiaotong Zhong Xiaotong Zhong Yingying Zhang Yingying Zhang Min Wang Ling Chen Ling Chen Wenzhi Cai Wenzhi Cai Wei Ren Wei Ren |
| author_facet | Kailun Gao Kailun Gao Xiaotong Zhong Xiaotong Zhong Yingying Zhang Yingying Zhang Min Wang Ling Chen Ling Chen Wenzhi Cai Wenzhi Cai Wei Ren Wei Ren |
| author_sort | Kailun Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundCritical thinking is essential for nurses’ clinical decision-making and the delivery of safe, high-quality care, and is shaped by their critical thinking disposition. However, nurses demonstrate negative critical thinking dispositions, with limited evidence available on influencing factors and training needs.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate nurses’ critical thinking dispositions, identify influencing factors, and explore their relationship with training needs.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in three tertiary Grade A hospitals from January to February 2025. Nurses were asked to complete the Chinese version of the critical thinking disposition inventory and a self-designed training needs questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were performed.ResultsA total of 370 clinical nurses participated in this study. The average critical thinking disposition score was 281.58 ± 36.68 and training needs score was 90.94 ± 12.01. Age, working experience, professional level, specialist nurse, position, department, and health status significantly influenced critical thinking disposition (all p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed health status and position being the most significant contributors (R2 = 0.128, p < 0.001). Notably, a significant positive correlation was observed between nurses’ critical thinking disposition and their training needs (r = 0.358, p < 0.01).ConclusionThese findings highlight the necessity of aligning education with individual needs. By implementing tailored training programs, nurses can be better supported the development of critical thinking, thereby fostering safer and higher-quality clinical practice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-93b4056d32024cb191a532f2424d3e1d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-93b4056d32024cb191a532f2424d3e1d2025-08-20T14:13:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-08-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16539911653991The self-assessment of critical thinking disposition and the needs for training: a cross-sectional survey of clinical nursesKailun Gao0Kailun Gao1Xiaotong Zhong2Xiaotong Zhong3Yingying Zhang4Yingying Zhang5Min Wang6Ling Chen7Ling Chen8Wenzhi Cai9Wenzhi Cai10Wei Ren11Wei Ren12Department of Nursing, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaBackgroundCritical thinking is essential for nurses’ clinical decision-making and the delivery of safe, high-quality care, and is shaped by their critical thinking disposition. However, nurses demonstrate negative critical thinking dispositions, with limited evidence available on influencing factors and training needs.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate nurses’ critical thinking dispositions, identify influencing factors, and explore their relationship with training needs.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in three tertiary Grade A hospitals from January to February 2025. Nurses were asked to complete the Chinese version of the critical thinking disposition inventory and a self-designed training needs questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were performed.ResultsA total of 370 clinical nurses participated in this study. The average critical thinking disposition score was 281.58 ± 36.68 and training needs score was 90.94 ± 12.01. Age, working experience, professional level, specialist nurse, position, department, and health status significantly influenced critical thinking disposition (all p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed health status and position being the most significant contributors (R2 = 0.128, p < 0.001). Notably, a significant positive correlation was observed between nurses’ critical thinking disposition and their training needs (r = 0.358, p < 0.01).ConclusionThese findings highlight the necessity of aligning education with individual needs. By implementing tailored training programs, nurses can be better supported the development of critical thinking, thereby fostering safer and higher-quality clinical practice.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1653991/fullcritical thinking dispositiontraining needs assessmentclinical nursesnurse educationcross-sectional study |
| spellingShingle | Kailun Gao Kailun Gao Xiaotong Zhong Xiaotong Zhong Yingying Zhang Yingying Zhang Min Wang Ling Chen Ling Chen Wenzhi Cai Wenzhi Cai Wei Ren Wei Ren The self-assessment of critical thinking disposition and the needs for training: a cross-sectional survey of clinical nurses Frontiers in Medicine critical thinking disposition training needs assessment clinical nurses nurse education cross-sectional study |
| title | The self-assessment of critical thinking disposition and the needs for training: a cross-sectional survey of clinical nurses |
| title_full | The self-assessment of critical thinking disposition and the needs for training: a cross-sectional survey of clinical nurses |
| title_fullStr | The self-assessment of critical thinking disposition and the needs for training: a cross-sectional survey of clinical nurses |
| title_full_unstemmed | The self-assessment of critical thinking disposition and the needs for training: a cross-sectional survey of clinical nurses |
| title_short | The self-assessment of critical thinking disposition and the needs for training: a cross-sectional survey of clinical nurses |
| title_sort | self assessment of critical thinking disposition and the needs for training a cross sectional survey of clinical nurses |
| topic | critical thinking disposition training needs assessment clinical nurses nurse education cross-sectional study |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1653991/full |
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