What indicators predict numeracy performance in undergraduate nursing students?

Aim: To identify indicators that predict numeracy performance in undergraduate nursing students Method: The cohort study looked to identify indicators that predict nursing numeracy performance collecting data on variables gender, age, field of nursing, Mathematics anxiety, mathematics qualification, current ability with general numeracy and performance in a nursing numeracy testing. Participants involved a cohort of first year Adult, Child, and Mental Health pre-registration nursing students (n=286). Who completed a demographic data sheet, MAS-UK mathematics anxiety screening tool, Basic and Key Skill Builder (BKSB) initial and diagnostic self-marking assessment tool, and a nursing numeracy test. Results: No significant contribution to the prediction of nursing numeracy was made by gender, age, nursing field and mathematics qualification with small beta values (β=-.029, .076, -.040, -.057 respectively). However overall BKSB score makes a 11.9% partial correlation (.345) with an 11.9% (.345 squared) total contribution to R squared contribution to the predictor of numeracy performance. The study identified that achieving higher marks in the BKSB screening led to higher achievement in the nursing numeracy exam (p value (β=.361), (t(228)=5.96, p=.000) (β=.361), (t(228)=5.96, p=.000) Mathematics anxiety Beta coefficient score of (β=-.254) suggests that Mathematics anxiety has a negative impact on the exam total (t(288)=-4.17, p=.000) with anxious students attaining a lower marks in the nursing numeracy exam, each point higher in the anxiety score, resulting in a decrease of .203 mark in the total exam score (B=-.203, 95%CI=-.299 to -.107). Maths anxiety contributed 5.8% (-.241) to R squared and unique contribution to the explanation of variance in total exams scores. Identifying as female affected mathematics anxiety scores with males scoring lower on the MAS-UK scale (M=44.37, SD 13.64), females (M=54.65, SD 18.27) (ANOVA .017) F value of (5.77). Conclusion: Current numeracy ability, as measured by a diagnostic tool, and mathematics anxiety score provide effective indicators that predict nursing students’ numeracy performance. Incorporating these diagnostic tools into admissions and/or induction periods early in the nursing programme may enable targeting of numeracy support strategies that may improve students’ numeracy attainment in their programme.