Mediating effect of intolerance of uncertainty between critical thinking and clinical reasoning in nursing undergraduates

GUO Na-na; AN Xiao; XIA Yu; XUE Ya-ting; WANG Hong

doi:10.16460/j.issn2097-6569.2025.09.001

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Journal of Nursing ›› 2025, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (9) : 1-6. DOI: 10.16460/j.issn2097-6569.2025.09.001

Mediating effect of intolerance of uncertainty between critical thinking and clinical reasoning in nursing undergraduates

GUO Na-na¹, AN Xiao², XIA Yu³, XUE Ya-ting⁴, WANG Hong²

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Abstract

Objective To explore the mediating effect of intolerance of uncertainty between critical thinking and clinical reasoning among nursing undergraduates, and to provide theoretical basis for enhancing their clinical reasoning abilities. Methods Using convenience sampling, 363 nursing undergraduates from a tertiary grade-A hospital in Shandong Province from October to December 2023 were selected as subjects. Data were collected using the General Information Questionnaires, the Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, and the Nurses Clinical Reasoning Scale. Structural equation modeling was conducted using AMOS 26.0, and the Bootstrap method was applied to examine the mediating effect model. Results The scores for critical thinking, intolerance of uncertainty, and clinical reasoning among nursing undergraduates were 130.94±20.94, 32.40±6.51, and 55.15±14.23, respectively. Intolerance of uncertainty was negatively correlated with both critical thinking and clinical reasoning (both P<0.01), while critical thinking was positively correlated with clinical reasoning (P<0.01). Intolerance of uncertainty played a partial mediating role between clinical reasoning and critical thinking, with a mediating effect value of 0.133, accounting for 34.10% of the total effect. Conclusion Clinical reasoning ability, intolerance of uncertainty, and critical thinking are closely related. Critical thinking can indirectly influence clinical reasoning ability through intolerance of uncertainty. Nursing educators should adopt strategies to foster critical thinking and improve tolerance of uncertainty in nursing undergraduates to enhance their clinical reasoning abilities.

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nursing undergraduate / intolerance of uncertainty / clinical reasoning / critical thinking / mediating effect

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GUO Na-na, AN Xiao, XIA Yu, XUE Ya-ting, WANG Hong. Mediating effect of intolerance of uncertainty between critical thinking and clinical reasoning in nursing undergraduates[J]. Journal of Nursing. 2025, 32(9): 1-6 https://doi.org/10.16460/j.issn2097-6569.2025.09.001

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