Cross-sectional methodological study demonstrates robust validity and reliability of the ACORN scale in nursing students, providing a standardized tool to guide oral healthcare education.
Oral health constitutes an integral component of holistic patient care; however, validated instruments for assessing nursing students’ oral health competencies are currently lacking within the Turkish context. This study aimed to translate the Attitude and Confidence with Oral Healthcare among Nursing Students (ACORN) Scale into Turkish and rigorously evaluate its psychometric properties. A descriptive, cross-sectional, methodological study design was employed. The sample comprised 336 nursing students enrolled at a university in Türkiye. The Attitude and Confidence with Oral Healthcare among Nursing Students Scale was translated into Turkish. Validity and reliability analyses were conducted in strict adherence to the COSMIN checklist. The Turkish ACORN Scale consists of 22 items across three factors: Attitude, Implementation Confidence, and Assessment Confidence. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated good model fit indices (χ²/df = 2.849, CFI = 0.941, RMSEA = 0.074, TLI = 0.931), with all factor loadings exceeding the 0.40 threshold. The scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.93.) The Turkish version of the ACORN Scale constitutes a valid and reliable measurement instrument. It provides nurse educators with a robust tool to assess students’ oral health competencies and guide curriculum integration regarding oral health promotion. Not applicable.
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