Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the Developmental Support Competency Scale for Nurses (DSCS-N)

Abstract

PurposeDevelopmental care is considered an important component of development and health promotion of premature infants, however, studies regarding assessment of nurses' competency of developmental care are inadequate. This study is designed to determine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Developmental Support Competency Scale for Nurses (DSCS-N). Design and methodsThis methodological study includes 140 nurses working at a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Data were collected using the Nurse Introductory Form and Developmental Support Competency Scale for Nurses. The scale was assessed in terms of language and content validity, construct validity, internal consistency and time invariance. ResultsThe scale consisted of 19 items and six subscales. In the confirmatory analysis, which is a validity analysis, it was found that the scale's factor loadings ranged between 0.27 and 0.92, and the ratio of chi-square to degrees of freedom was 1.64. Other fit indices (CFI = 0.96, NFI = 0.92, NNFI = 0.95) were at desirable levels. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found to be 0.90. According to item analysis results, item-total correlations ranged between 0.26 and 0.66. It was found that nurses' responses to the scale items at two different times were consistent and did not change over time (p > 0.05). ConclusionsDSCS-N is a valid and reliable scale for measuring Turkish nurses' competency of developmental support. Practice implicationsDSCS-N can be used as a tool contributing to the implementation of developmental care. The scale can help nurses working in neonatal intensive care units to determine their competency of developmental care.