Development and Validation of the Genetic Counseling Self‐Efficacy Scale (GCSES)

Abstract

This study describes the development of a self-efficacy scale that is specific to genetic counseling and based both on Bandura's self-efficacy theory (2006) and the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling practice-based competencies (2013). The phase 1 validation compared genetic counseling students (n = 20) and genetic counselors (n = 18). Nine items were removed from the scale at this point for lack of discrimination or redundancy. The phase 2 validation included a larger cohort of genetic counseling students (n = 168). Factor analysis identified six factors accounting for 58% of the total variance. Cronbach's alpha as well as the inter-item correlations and item-total correlations of both the full scale items and underlying factors indicated that the items and factors of the scale are sufficiently related, but not redundant. The newly developed Genetic Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale (GCSES) has the potential to be used as an outcome measure in research related to training or professional development of genetic counselors as well as for a training tool.

The relationship between genetic counseling student self‐efficacy and clinical training

“…There were 15 incomplete responses not included in the analyses, leaving a total of 115 completed questionnaires for a response rate of 39.5%. Thirty‐five participants (27%) recalled taking the survey distributed by Caldwell et al (), while half of the participants ( n = 66) were unsure if they had completed the previous questionnaire. The current sample's demographics were not statistically different from the sample in the study by Caldwell et al () for age and sex (data not shown).…”

“…The target population for the study was the same cohort of students in their second year of training in a genetic counseling training program accredited by the ACGC that was surveyed in the studies by Caldwell et al (). The students were surveyed in the fall of 2016 in the Caldwell et al () study while data collection for the current study took place from April 2017 to May 2017, near the end of clinical training for this cohort.…”

“…Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is a multivariate statistical procedure that is used to test how well the measured variables/items represent the number of constructs/factors. CFA was used to verify the factor structure of GCSES proposed by Caldwell et al (). The hypothesized model indicated that there were six correlated factors underlying the 38 items measured—Factor 1: Complex Skills; Factor 2: Communication; Factor 3: Genetic Testing; Factor 4: Basic Psychosocial Skills; Factor 5: Genetic Counseling Process and Factor 6: Information Gathering.…”

“…In the present study, self-efficacy in genetic counseling students was measured by the Genetic Counseling Self-efficacy Scale (GCSES). The GCSES is a tool that was recently developed to measure self-efficacy specifically within the field of genetic counseling (Caldwell, Wusik, He, Yager, & Atzinger, 2018a). The GCSES was developed based on the ACGC PBCs and Bandura's self-efficacy theory to measure self-efficacy in clinical skills performed as part of genetic counseling sessions (Caldwell et al, 2018a).…”

“…The GCSES is a tool that was recently developed to measure self-efficacy specifically within the field of genetic counseling (Caldwell, Wusik, He, Yager, & Atzinger, 2018a). The GCSES was developed based on the ACGC PBCs and Bandura's self-efficacy theory to measure self-efficacy in clinical skills performed as part of genetic counseling sessions (Caldwell et al, 2018a). In a study providing initial validation of the GCSES, a cohort of genetic counseling students at the beginning of their second year of an ACGC accredited program were surveyed (Caldwell et al, 2018a).…”