The Neonatal Palliative Care Attitude Scale: Psychometric properties for Portuguese neonatal nurses.

Abstract

Background: This study is aimed to perform the translation and cultural adaptation of the Neonatal Palliative Care Attitude Scale (NiPCAS) and evaluation of its psychometric properties with Portuguese neonatal nurses.

Methods: The research started with a scoping review that allowed the identification of the NiPCAS. It was a methodological study with a quantitative approach. The semantic equivalence of the items was adjusted with the participation of 20 neonatal nurse experts. They performed facial and quantitative content validation. Psychometric validation of the NiPCAS was performed on a nonprobability nurses sample (n = 283) in 13 level 3 neonatal units between July 2021 and February 2022. Confirmatory factor analysis using the polychoric correlation matrix was performed to estimate factor validity using the "lavaan" package for R statistical software. Internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and item sensitivity was assessed using the asymmetry and kurtosis coefficients. Empirical indices were considered: chi-square over degrees of freedom; comparative fit index; normed fit index; Tucker-Lewis index, and root mean square error of approximation; average extracted variance and composite reliability were used to assess convergent validity.

Results: Asymmetry and kurtosis were <|3| and <|7|, respectively, suggesting psychometric sensitivity. The convergent validity of the factors was: F1, FCF1 = 0.90 and for F2, FCF2 = 0.80, and a lower value for F3, FCF3 = 0.40. According to the squared correlation criterion average variance extracted (AVE) between the factors, there was no discriminant validity for F1 and F2, but there was discriminant validity for F1, F3, F2, and F3.

Significance of results: This instrument has implications for providing end-of-life care to newborns and their families. The use of this instrument reveals several barriers and facilitating elements inherent in the organization and culture of the facility and nursing education.