title: Pediatric nurses' perception of factors associated with caring self-efficacy: A qualitative content analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nurses, who are considered to form the largest group of professional healthcare providers, face the challenge of maintaining, promoting, and providing quality nursing care and to prepare themselves to function confidently and to care effectively. Among the factors affecting nursing performance, self-efficacy has been expected to have the greatest influence. However, the concept of caring self-efficacy was not considered and no research has been done in this field in Iran. This study was conducted to explore and identify the factors described by pediatric nurses as related to caring self-efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a qualitative study conducted through content analysis in 2013 in Iran. Twenty-four participants were selected through purposive sampling method from pediatric nurses and educators. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis of the interviews in this study led to the development of four main themes: (1) Professional knowledge of children caring, (2) experience, (3) caring motivation, and (4) efficient educational system as the factors influencing caring self-efficacy perception of pediatric nurses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This article presents the factors associated with the perception of caring self-efficacy in pediatric nurses' perspective. This finding can be used by nursing administrators and instructors, especially in the area of pediatric caring, to enhance nursing professional practice and the quality of pediatric caring.
authors: Nursing Student Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
authors: Azam
authors: A
authors: Alavi
authors: Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Masoud
authors: M
authors: Bahrami
authors: Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Zargham-Boroujeni
authors: Medical Education Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Yousefy
keywords: Caring; Iran; pediatric nursing; qualitative research; self-efficacy