Reliability and Validity of the Japanese Version of the Implementation Leadership Scale for Nurse Managers and Staff Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background. Strategic leadership is key to implementing evidence-based practice (EBP). Evaluating the readiness and processes necessary to implement EBP using the Japanese version of the implementation leadership scale (ILS) may be useful to systematically promote the implementation of EBP in Japan. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the ILS for nurse managers and staff nurses. Methods. Data were collected in a cross-sectional study. The original ILS was translated into Japanese and back-translated into English. Clinical nurses reviewed it and confirmed its face validity. We distributed a web questionnaire to 119 nurse managers and 2,858 staff nurses working at three university hospitals in Japan’s metropolitan areas. Construct validity was assessed for nursing managers and staff nurses, respectively, using confirmatory factor analysis. Known-group validity for nurse managers was assessed by verifying differences in ILS scores by educational background and experience of learning EBP and working on EBP. We evaluated reliability using Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability. Results. The response rates for nurse managers and staff nurses were 56.3% and 16.9%, respectively. Data from 67 nursing managers and 484 staff nurses were analyzed, excluding duplicate responses. Confirmatory factor analyses of both samples supported the four-factor structure of ILS. The ILS total score of nurse managers with experience learning EBP or experience working on EBP was statistically significantly higher than that of those with no experience, and known-group validity was supported. Across both samples, internal consistency reliability was strong (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.91–0.97) and test-retest reliability was moderate. Conclusion. This study illustrated the reliability and validity of Japanese versions of the ILS for both nurse managers and staff nurses. This study enabled international comparisons of the leadership required for EBP implementation and may support the development of intervention programs and strategies to promote EBP’s implementation in different countries. Trial Registration. UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR). This trail is registered with UMIN000045782.