Nurses' Work Methods Assessment Scale: Turkish Validity and Reliability Study.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Organizing nurses' work is crucial for ensuring patient care quality and efficiency. Nurses' work methods directly influence patient safety and healthcare outcomes, making them vital for effective health services. Assessing these methods helps identify effective practices, enhance work organization, and improve both professional satisfaction and patient safety. This study aims to translate, adapt, and validate the Nurse Work Method Assessment Scale (NWMAS) for Turkish. Methods: Methodological study with a non-probabilistic sample of 209 hospital nurses, conducted between June and July 2024. The linguistic adaptation involved translation and back-translation with the participation of bilingual experts. Statistical analyses included exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, item-total correlation tests, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency assessment using Cronbach's alpha. Results: One item was removed due to cultural incompatibility, resulting in a 24-item Turkish version of the NWMAS. During the adaptation process, expert evaluations led to the removal of one item from the original scale, as it referenced nursing practices that are either not widely implemented or considered culturally incompatible with the structure of the Turkish healthcare system. Content Validity Index values ranged from 0.85 to 0.95. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed a five-factor structure explaining 55.65% of total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this structure with acceptable fit indices (χ²/df = 1.89; RMSEA = 0.06; GFI = 0.86). Cronbach's alpha for the overall scale was 0.87, with subscale alphas ranging from 0.52 to 0.82. Test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from 0.95 to 0.98, indicating high stability over time. Conclusions: The Turkish version of the NWMAS demonstrated adequate validity and reliability and can be used to evaluate nurses' work methods in Turkish hospital settings. The study highlights the importance of cultural adaptation in scale development to ensure conceptual relevance in local healthcare systems.