Psychometric Evaluation of the Canadian Nurse Informatics Competency Assessment Scale and the Digital-Technology Self-Efficacy Scale Among Saudi Nursing Students: Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The integration of digital health technologies into nursing education in Saudi Arabia requires reliable tools to assess nursing informatics competency and digital technology self-efficacy among students. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Canadian Nursing Informatics Competency Assessment Scale (C-NICAS) and Digital Technology Self-Efficacy (DT-SE) scale among undergraduate nursing students at a Saudi university. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey of 243 undergraduate nursing students at the University of Ha'il was conducted using the C-NICAS and DT-SE. Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach α, and construct validity was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Results: A total of 243 students participated (mean C-NICAS score 54.0, SD 16.9; mean DT-SE score 2.7, SD 0.56). Both scales showed good internal consistency (C-NICAS total α=0.90; DT-SE α=0.80). C-NICAS demonstrated a multidimensional factor structure with an acceptable model fit (comparative fit index=1.00; root mean square error of approximation=0.081), whereas DT-SE showed a 3-factor structure with a suboptimal confirmatory model fit (comparative fit index=0.76, root mean square error of approximation=0.146). Conclusions: The C-NICAS and the DT-SE are suitable for assessing informatics competency and digital self-efficacy among undergraduate nursing students at this institution, although further refinement of the DT-SE may improve model fit. These validated tools can inform curriculum reform at this and similar institutions in Saudi Arabia and support the digital health goals of Saudi Vision 2030.