Funders:
  • Menzies School of Health Research
Collaborators:
  • St John of God Health Care
  • DNASH (National Directorate of Hospitals)
  • Australian Catholic University 
Aim:

The aim of this study is to explore definitions and perceptions of nursing and midwifery competence and confidence in Timor-Leste.  

Research Questions:

The study will seek to answer:

  • How do nurses and midwives conceptualise competence?
  • What are the self-reported levels of confidence in practising nurses and midwives 
  • What are the self-reported level of competence in nursing/midwifery professional roles 
  • What  systemic mechanisms exist to build, test and measure competency in Timor-Leste?

Secondary Research Questions:

Secondary research questions will be obtained through the questionnaire as well as during focus group discussion. 

  • What exposure do staff have competency testing and measurement in Timor-Leste?
  • Do any variables affect the primary research questions? These will include general demographic/training data including sex, age, institution and level of training, post-graduation experience in terms of years and specialty area, ongoing professional development opportunities.
  • Are there relationships between perceived levels of confidence/competence? For example, do nurses with higher confidence rate their competence more highly?
  • What competencies/skills do nurses/midwives perform frequently in their roles and do they receive formal competency testing of these skills?
  • How do nurses perceive their competence against peers?
  • What factors do they believe could increase their competence and confidence?
Anticipated Outcomes of this Research:
  • Provide novel data on levels of nursing confidence and competence
  • Demonstrate effective utilization of a novel measurement tools to measure competence/confidence that  are context appropriate and provides useful information.
  • Improve understanding of how nurses/midwives compare themselves against peers.
  • Provide novel data on the relationship between perceived and measured competence
  • Provide insight into how competence systematised in Timor-Leste
  • Examine the relationship between key demographic variables and perceived and measured competency and confidence
  • Provide insight into education programs design to improve teaching and learning outcomes in a low-middle resource country context
Chief Investigator:
  • Benjamin Dingle
Project Manager:
  • Salvador Amaral
Contact information:
Project dates:
  • Jan 2023 - Dec 2023 
Project information for participants:
  • All nurses/midwives working in clinical areas in Hospitals in Timor-Leste are eligible and encouraged to participate in this study.
  • Data collection commencing at HNGV in Feb 2023. District referral hospitals to follow.