Faculty Collaboration Database

Reliability and validity of a tool to assess oncology nurses' experiences with prognosis-related communication. Oncol Nurs Forum 2015 Jan;42(1):64-73

Date

12/30/2014

Pubmed ID

25542322

DOI

10.1188/15.ONF.64-73

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84937512087 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   3 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To establish the reliability and validity of a previously developed survey measuring nurses' experiences with prognosis-related communication.

DESIGN: Psychometric testing of survey.

SETTING: Mailed survey of Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) members.

SAMPLE: 392 ONS members.

METHODS: Reliability was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha. Total scale and subscale characteristics were evaluated through inter-item correlation matrices, average inter-item correlations, corrected item-to-total correlations, and Cronbach's alpha coefficients if the items were removed. Construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis and contrasted group comparisons.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Measures of attitudes toward prognosis-related communication, demographic variables.

FINDINGS: A three-factor structure emerged with acceptable reliability and validity. Contrasted group comparisons revealed differences in prognosis-related communication by nurses' years of experience with patients with cancer, level of education, and extent of education about prognosis-related communication.

CONCLUSIONS: The final three-factor instrument, Prognosis-Related Communication in Oncology Nursing, was found to have acceptable reliability and validity.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: The final instrument can serve as a tool to measure nurses' experiences with prognosis-related communication. Such measurements may guide interventions that aim to improve the process of prognostic disclosure and elucidate the role of the nurse in the process.

Author List

Newman AR, Helft PR

Authors

Amy R. Newman PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, CPHON Assistant Professor in the Marquette University College of Nursing department at Marquette University
Amy R. Newman NP APP Hybrid in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Communication
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Oncology Nursing
Prognosis
Psychometrics
Reproducibility of Results
Retrospective Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Truth Disclosure