title: Psychometric testing of the Persian version of the Belongingness Scale-Clinical Placement Experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Belongingness has been identified both as a fundamental human need and as a prerequisite for nursing students' clinical learning. Belongingness has also been associated with students' academic achievement, retention, self-esteem, self-directed learning, and self-efficacy. The Belongingness Scale-Clinical Placement Experience is a valid and reliable measure of nursing students' belongingness scores; however, a Persian version of this scale is not currently available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to translate the Belongingness Scale-Clinical Placement Experience into Persian, to evaluate its psychometric properties, and to measure the belongingness experiences of Iranian nursing students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following translation and initial validity and reliability testing of the scale, 300 nursing students from three universities in Iran completed the survey. Further psychometric testing was undertaken followed by analysis of descriptive statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the results of confirmatory factor analysis two items were removed from the scale. The mean score of Persian version of the Belongingness Scale-Clinical Placement Experience was 3.21 (0.57). The whole scale had a high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.92). The alpha coefficients of the subscales of "self-esteem", "connectedness", and "efficacy" were 0.85, 0.86, and 0.80 respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar to previous versions of the Belongingness Scale-Clinical Placement Experience, the Persian version demonstrated strong psychometric properties with strong validity and reliability, indicating its utility and appropriateness when measuring Iranian nursing students' belongingness experiences. Further testing with other cohorts would strengthen these results.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: t_ashktorab@sbmu.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ashktorab
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: hasanvand.Sh1390@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasanvand
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: nseyedfatemi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Naemeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seyedfatemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Paramedical, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: fzayeri@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zayeri
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Electronic address: Tracy.Levett-jones@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Levett-Jones
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran. Electronic address: ypournia@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yadollah
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pournia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Belongingness; Clinical placement; Nursing students; Psychometric testing; Reliability; Validity