Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40936644›Full record

ArticleHealth SA = SA Gesondheid2025

Strengthening theoretical assessment design in nursing education: Advancing SDG 4.

Gabieba Donough, Katlego Mthimunye, Felicity Daniels

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health SA = SA Gesondheid, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Gabieba DonoughFaculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4601-1851
Katlego MthimunyeFaculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3009-9254
Felicity DanielsFaculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4550-7887

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Quality theoretical assessments in nursing education are essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all). However, misalignment with National Qualification Framework (NQF) standards, an overreliance on recall-based questions and inadequate educator training undermine the fairness of assessments and students' ability to demonstrate clinical competence. Aim: This study explores theoretical assessment design in nursing education, evaluating its alignment with NQF standards, competency-based assessments and Sustainable Development Goal 4. Setting: Conducted at a South African nursing school offering undergraduate nursing programmes. Methods: A multimethod approach integrated educator interviews, document reviews of moderation reports, a scoping review and a student survey to investigate assessment practices. Results: While educators valued Bloom's Taxonomy, over-reliance on recall-based questions limited critical thinking, clinical decision-making and competency development. Misalignment with NQF standards caused inconsistencies in cognitive demand, while gaps in moderation processes impacted assessment validity and fairness. Educators faced challenges because of limited training and support, and students struggled with ambiguous and linguistically complex assessments that hindered their ability to demonstrate competency. Conclusion: Strengthening assessment design, moderation and educator training is essential to improving competency-based assessment practices in nursing education. Policy reforms promoting fair, transparent, and competency-driven assessments will enhance graduate preparedness, ensure alignment with NQF standards and support SDG 4's goal of quality education. Contribution: This study provides empirical evidence supporting assessment policy improvements, promoting structured, competency-based assessments that enhance fairness, deepen learning and align with nursing education standards.

Indexed as

Bloom’s Taxonomycompetency-based assessmentmoderationnursing educationSDG 4theoretical assessment

Identifiers

PMID40936644
PMCPMC12421558

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.