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Psychometric Properties of a Tool to Measure Nurses’ Attitudes to Single Checking Medications: SCAMS‐II
Author(s) -
Cross Rachel,
Bennett Paul N.,
Ockerby Cherene,
Busija Lucy,
Currey Judy
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
worldviews on evidence‐based nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.052
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1741-6787
pISSN - 1545-102X
DOI - 10.1111/wvn.12115
Subject(s) - cronbach's alpha , rasch model , confirmatory factor analysis , exploratory factor analysis , construct validity , scale (ratio) , psychology , reliability (semiconductor) , nursing , item response theory , health care , measure (data warehouse) , psychometrics , medicine , applied psychology , family medicine , clinical psychology , structural equation modeling , computer science , data mining , developmental psychology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , machine learning , economics , economic growth
Background and Aims Single checking medications has been increasingly adopted over the past decade by nurses in Australian healthcare services. However, attitudes toward the practice of only one nurse checking medications remain unclear. The aim of this article is to report on the development, reliability, and validity of a tool to measure nurses’ attitudes to single checking medications in a health service in which single checking has been in place for over a decade. Methods In a cross‐sectional survey design, the Single Checking and Administration of Medications Scale (SCAMS‐II) was used to measure the attitudes of 299 registered nurses (RNs) who were single checking medications in one metropolitan teaching hospital in Australia. Exploratory factor analysis was used to explore the dimensions that best represented the SCAMS‐II. Cronbach's α was used to assess internal consistency of the identified subscales. To test the construct validity of the emergent questionnaire, Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Rasch analyses were performed. Results The psychometric properties of the SCAMS‐II revealed 12 items with three reliable subscales: a five‐item accountability model; a four‐item efficiency model; and a three‐item knowledge model. Linking Evidence to Action In settings where single checking is current practice, the SCAMS‐II is recommended as a reliable tool to measure nurses’ attitudes toward the single checking of medications. The findings from this study may assist healthcare organizations in the development of policy and procedure guidelines for the safe administration of medications.