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Aim. This paper reports a study testing the validity and reliability of the Italian version of the Kogan Attitude towards Older People scale. Background. Nursing students' attitudes towards older people can affect their preference for working with them. One of the most common instruments used to assess these attitudes is the Kogan Attitude towards Older People scale. Previous validation studies performed on college students internationally have demonstrated good reliability and validity. The psychometric properties of the Italian version have not yet been tested. Design. A cross-sectional, descriptive study. Method. The study was conducted from March-June 2010 with a convenience sample of nursing students attending two Italian universities. Reliability was evaluated using internal consistency and item-to-total correlation. Content and construct validity were evaluated using a content validity index and principal factor analysis. Results. A total of 1637 nursing students participated in the study. Two factors were extracted from the factor analysis: prejudice describing a negative disposition and appreciation indicating a favourable feeling and opinion towards older people. Conclusion. The Kogan Attitude towards Older People scale applied to Italian nursing students exhibited good internal consistency. The two-dimensional construct of the scale was congruent with some, but not all, results of previous studies due to methodological differences among the studies. Based on the study findings, the scale can be recommended for future research studies in Italy including use as pre/post-test measurement associated with nursing education programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

scott k., white k., johnson c. & roydhouse j.k. (2011) Knowledge and skills of cancer clinical trials nurses in Australia. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(5), 1111-1121. Abstract Aims. This paper is a report of the development and testing of a questionnaire measuring knowledge and skills of cancer clinical trials nurse in Australia. Background. The role of cancer clinical trials nurse, widely acknowledged as an integral member of the clinical research team, has evolved in recent years. Elements of the clinical trials nurse role in cancer have previously been described. To evaluate specific cancer clinical trials nurse educational and training needs, the development of a valid and reliable tool is required. Methods. In 2009, a study was conducted in three stages. Stage I: questionnaire development and pilot testing; stage II: focus group; stage III: national survey. Internal consistency reliability testing and multi-trait analysis of item convergent/divergent validity were employed. Regression analysis was used to identify predictors of clinical trials nurse knowledge and skills. Results. The national survey was a 48-item questionnaire, measuring six clinical trial knowledge and seven skills sub-scales. Of 61 respondents, 90% were women, with mean age 43 years, 19 years as a Registered Nurse and 5 years as a cancer clinical trials nurse. Self-reported knowledge and skills were satisfactory to good. Internal consistency reliability was high (Cronbach's alpha: knowledge = 0·98; skills = 0·90). Criteria for item convergent/divergent validity were met. Number of years as cancer clinical trials nurse was positively related to self-reported knowledge and skills. Conclusion. Preliminary data suggest that the national survey is reliable and valid. Data have contributed to better understanding the knowledge and skills of cancer clinical trials nurse in Australia and development of a postgraduate course in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

gur-yaish n., zisberg a., sinoff g. & shadmi e. (2011) Development and psychometric testing of a measure of informal caregiving for hospitalized older adults. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(4), 931-938. Abstract Aim. This paper is a report of the development and psychometric testing of the questionnaire evaluating informal caregiving for hospitalized older adults. Background. Informal caregiving of hospitalized older adults is an understudied phenomenon that lacks a valid and reliable measure to capture its multi-dimensionality. Methods. An instrument development procedure, followed by an empirical study, was conducted from February to November 2009. Instrument development included item generation and content validity, which was established by five experts. The validation study utilized a retrospective between-patients design. The sample consisted of 279 patients, aged 70 and older, who were hospitalized in a large medical centre in northern Israel. The internal consistency reliability, construct, convergent and divergent validity of the measure were tested. Results. The 14-item scale describes various aspects of informal caregiving for older adults in the hospital setting. The scale has four dimensions: Instrumental care, Supervision of care, Psychological support and Ensuring and Explaining care. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the theoretical model of the four dimensions of care. Reliability analysis revealed acceptable-to-high estimates for the total and for the dimensional scores (ranging from 0·78 to 0·89). The convergent and divergent validity coefficients were all in the expected direction. Conclusions. The preliminary psychometric properties of the measure showed acceptable results. The measure should be further explored in different cultural settings and for its ability to link between caregiving attributes, as captured by the measure, and hospitalization outcomes in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This article is to report the development and psychometric testing of the Hospital Aggressive Behaviour Scale - Users. Background Workplace violence is present in many work spheres, but in the healthcare sector, nurses in particular are at more risk due to the close contact they maintain with users and clients and the special characteristics of this relationship. Design Using qualitative and quantitative methodology, an instrument was applied to a sample of 1,489 nurses from 11 public hospitals. Data collection was carried out in 2010 and 2011. Results Exploratory factor analysis yielded a 10-item instrument distributed in two factors (non-physical violence and physical violence), which was validated by means of confirmatory factor analysis. Both the resulting questionnaire and the factors identified present high internal consistency and adequate external validity, analysed by means of statistically significant correlations between the Hospital Aggressive Behaviour Scale and job satisfaction, burnout components, and psychological well-being. Conclusions The results indicate that, in nursing personnel, higher exposure to user violence leads to lower job satisfaction, more emotional exhaustion and more cynicism, and to a lower level of psychological well-being. The instrument developed in this study may be very useful in the sphere of assessment and prevention of psychosocial risks for the early detection of the problem of user violence in its two facets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To translate the validated measure, Self- Management of Type 1 Diabetes in Adolescents, into the Mandarin Chinese language and to test the psychometric properties of the Chinese version. Background Although research on self-management of Type 1 diabetes has been increasing over the past 20 years, few health-related instruments have been available in the Chinese language for youth with Type 1 diabetes. Design A two-phase design was used in this study, including instrument translation and psychometric testing. Methods The instrument translation, from October 2008-April 2009, included three steps: forward translation, back translation, and comparison of versions via Translation Validity Index - with multiple rounds, group discussion, and achievement of consensus at each step. Psychometric properties of the Chinese version Schilling's Self- Management of Type 1 Diabetes for Adolescents scale was assessed in a convenience sample of 136 Chinese youth (ages 8-19) with Type 1 diabetes between June 2009-August 2009. Results The internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities indicated generally good consistency and temporal stability of the Chinese version. Evidence of construct validity and criterion-related validity was obtained via correlations of subscales with established measures of diabetes adherence and quality of life and also with haemoglobin A1c. Results from hypothesis testing also supported construct validity. Conclusion The Chinese version of Self- Management of Type 1 Diabetes for Adolescents scale is sound and will facilitate cross-cultural studies, while also enabling nurses to monitor and enhance the diabetes self-management of Chinese youth with Type 1 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To report the development and psychometric testing of the Behavioral Health Care Competency survey, designed to measure hospital nurse perceptions of behavioral healthcare competency. Background. Hospital nurses working in general or other non-psychiatric units may lack behavioral healthcare competency to manage disruptive behaviours associated with mental illnesses. Design. Instrument development. Method. A nurse study team including clinical experts and nurse researchers from three community hospitals in southern California (USA) reviewed content validity of each item and the 31-item instrument and created a behavioral health care competency conceptual model based on the nursing process. Separate institutional review board permissions were obtained from each hospital. The study team collaborated in the timing of survey administration (November 2010), analysis of the results and survey validation. Results. A total of 844 nurses completed the survey, representing approximately 23-41% of eligible nurses from each hospital. Using principal component analysis with varimax rotation, 23 items led to a factor structure with four components. Four subscales with adequate alpha coefficients were formed: Resource Adequacy, Patient Assessment, Practice/Intervention Competency, and Psychotropic Recommendation. Conclusion. The 23-item hospital nurse Behavioral Health Care Competency survey is an adequate and valid newly developed instrument. Further testing with diverse samples is needed to strengthen generalizability and address unique and specialized nursing care needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

wang s.-c., lee l.l., wang w.-h., sung h.-c., chang h.-k., hsu m.-y., chang s.-c. & tai c.-h. (2012) Psychometric testing of the Chinese evidence-based practice scales. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(11), 2570-2577. Abstract Aim. This article is a report of the psychometric testing of the Chinese version of Evidence-Based Practice Implementation and Beliefs, and Barriers to, and Facilitators of Research Utilization scales. Background. Investigations into the effect of evidence-based practice on clinical care could be facilitated by instruments for measuring the levels of evidence-based practice implementation; the strength of beliefs in evidence-based practice; the barriers to, and the facilitators of research utilization. An English version of the scales measuring the above constructs has been tested whereas the Chinese one has not. Design. Instrument development. Methods. Psychometric analyses of the four evidence-based scales were conducted on a sample of 361 nurses from a medical centre in Taiwan. Both the internal consistency and squared multiple correlation coefficients were used to examine reliability. The validity testing for the four scales was estimated by examining their construct and concurrent validity. Data were collected between December 2008-January 2009. Findings. Internal consistencies exist for the Chinese Evidence-Based Practice Implementation, Beliefs, and Barriers to, and Facilitator of Research Utilization scales (≥0·85); some were greater than 0·9, which may indicate redundancy in items. Construct validity of the four scales was supported by hypotheses testing. Concurrent validity of the four scales was supported by known-group analysis, in which experienced nursing researchers had higher scores compared with clinical nurses. Conclusion. These scales may have value in discrimination between implementation of EBP and perception of barriers to, and facilitators of research utilization among nurses with different education levels, research experiences or working years in clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

matsumoto k., sumino k., fukahori h., kitaoka k., kamibeppu k. & nagamura f. (2012) Stressor Scale for Clinical Research Coordinators: development and psychometric testing. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(7), 1636-1645. Abstract Aim. This article is a report of the development and psychometric testing of the Stressor Scale for Clinical Research Coordinators. Background. Job stress is viewed as a situation where working conditions interact with individual worker characteristics and result in disruption of psychological or physiological homeostasis. Clinical research coordinators, also known as research nurses, are professionals who play a central role in clinical trials. They face various problems associated with their responsibilities; however, few studies have reported on their stress. To manage their stress, it is necessary to identify the sources of stress (i.e. stressors). Method. The 56-item preliminary instrument was developed based on literature review and expert discussions. A total of 589 clinical research coordinators in 186 hospitals in Japan were surveyed in 2011. Statistical analyses on construct and concurrent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were performed. Results. A six-factor solution with 23 items was selected using exploratory factor analysis: 'quantitative workload', 'conflict with investigators', 'ambiguity of work', 'conflict with other clinical research coordinators and with supervisors', 'demands from an affiliate other than the hospital', and 'difficulty in caring for trial participants'. Confirmatory factor analysis affirmed construct validity, with a demonstrated acceptable fit between the factor structure and the observed data. All factors had significant correlations with burnout and psychological distress, which indicated acceptable concurrent validity. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0·73-0·82. Intra-class correlation coefficients indicated almost satisfactory test-retest reliability. Conclusion. Our new instrument has acceptable validity and reliability for evaluating job stressors for clinical research coordinators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ma c., chen s., you l., luo z. & xing c. (2012) Development and psychometric evaluation of the Treatment Adherence Questionnaire for Patients with Hypertension. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(6), 1402-1413. Abstract Aim. This article is a report of the development and psychometric testing of the Treatment Adherence Questionnaire for Patients with Hypertension. Background Hypertension is the most prevalent health problem among adult patients affecting approximately 200 million people in China and about 1 billion persons worldwide. Adherence to medication and lifestyle for hypertensive patients result in blood pressure control and reduce adverse outcomes. At present, few specific adherence instruments are available to completely evaluate medication and lifestyle for hypertensive patients. Methods. A multi-phase psychometric questionnaire development method was used to develop the instrument. The item pool was generated using literature review and focus group. Content validity was evaluated by expert panel. Then, the field testing was conducted by a convenience sampling of 278 hypertensive patients from December 2009 to May 2010 in Guangdong Province of China. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to test construct validity. Finally, internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed. Results. The new measure consisted of six dimensions with 28 items, explaining 62·54% of the total variance in the data. Confirmative factor analysis supported a good overall fit of the six-factor model. Cronbach's α of the overall questionnaire was 0·86 and 0·82 for test-retest reliability. Conclusions. The questionnaire was a brief and psychometrically sound instrument to evaluate hypertensive patients' treatment adherence and to be applied in the research and clinical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

yi m. & park e.y. (2011) Effects of breast health education conducted by trained breast cancer survivors. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(5), 1100-1110. Abstract Aims. This article is a report on a study of the effectiveness of breast health education provided by trained breast cancer survivors on knowledge, skills, performance and self-efficacy. Background. Numerous studies have been performed to assess the effects of breast health education provided by health professionals, but few studies have examined the effects of education provided by lay persons, such as breast cancer survivors. This study focused on the role of breast cancer survivors as breast health educators. Methods. A pretest and post-test quasi-experimental design was used. Trained breast cancer survivors conducted a 60-minute breast health class that was guided by self-efficacy theory to young healthy women. The data were collected in 2008 from 22 young healthy women who participated in the class. Self-report questionnaires were used to measure the breast cancer and breast self-examinations knowledge, skills, performance and self-efficacy at pre-education, and at 1 month and 3 months post-education. Results. The scores on knowledge, skills, performance and self-efficacy before breast health education were significantly increased after 1 month and 3 months post-education. Conclusion. The results of this study demonstrate that a one-time breast health class provided by trained breast cancer survivors can be useful in motivating young women to adopt behaviours that help to prevent breast cancer morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ganz f.d., raanan o., khalaila r., bennaroch k., scherman s., bruttin m., sastiel z., fink n.f. & benbenishty j. (2012) Moral distress and structural empowerment among a national sample of Israeli intensive care nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing 69(2), 415-424. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06020.x Abstract Aim. The aim of this study was to determine levels of structural empowerment, moral distress, and the association between them among intensive care nurses. Background. Structural empowerment is the ability to access sources of power. Moral distress is the painful feelings experienced when a person knows the right thing to do but cannot do so due to external constraints. Several studies suggest a theoretical relationship between these concepts. Design. Cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study. Methods. Members of the Evidence Based Nursing Practice Committee of the Israeli Society for Cardiology and Critical Care Nurses recruited a convenience sample of intensive care nurses from their respective institutions and units. Nurses were asked to complete three questionnaires (demographic and work characteristics, Moral Distress Scale, and the Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire-II). Data were collected between May-September 2009. Results. Intensive Care nurses had moderate levels of structural empowerment, low levels of moral distress frequency, and moderately high moral distress intensity. A weak correlation was found between moral distress frequency and structural empowerment. No other structural empowerment component was associated with moral distress. Work characteristics as opposed to demographic characteristics were more associated with the study variables. Conclusions. This study weakly supports the association between structural empowerment and moral distress. It also provides further evidence to the theory of structural empowerment as characterized in the critical care environment. Further studies are indicated to determine what other factors might be associated with moral distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]