Development of the Individualised Developmental Care Knowledge and Attitude Scale

Background: There is a need for a valid and reliable scale to determine the individualised developmental care levels of nurses who provide care for preterm newborns. Aims: To develop the Individualised Developmental Care Knowledge and Attitude Scale for nurses who provide care to preterm newborns and to evaluate its validity and reliability. Methods: This methodological study was performed with 260 nurses who provide care for preterm newborns in neonatal intensive care units. The content validity of the research was evaluated under the guidance of professionals working in the pediatric field. Collected data were analysed using values, percentage, mean, standard deviation, correlation analysis, Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient and factor analysis methods. Results: The total Content Validity Index for all items was found to be 0.930. The result of Bartlett's test of sphericity (x2 = 4691.061, p = 0.000) was significant, and the KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) measure of sampling adequacy was 0.906. The fit indices for confirmatory factor analysis were x2/SD = 4.35, GFI = 0.97, AGFI = 0.97, CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.057 and SRMR = 0.062. All of the related fit indices were in the accepted range. The Individualised Developmental Care Knowledge and Attitude Scale was developed at the end of the study, and 34 items and four dimensions were identified. The Cronbach's alpha of the full scale was 0.937. Conclusions: From the results, it can be concluded that the Individualised Developmental Care Knowledge and Attitude Scale is both a reliable and valid measurement tool for determining individualised developmental levels.