Tag: stress of conscience

Psychometric properties concerning four instruments measuring job satisfaction, strain, and stress of conscience in a residential care context

Anneli Orrung Wallin, Anna-Karin Edberg, Ingela Beck, Ulf Jakobsson

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics

Abstract
There are many instruments assessing the wellbeing of staff, but far from all have been psychometrically investigated. When evaluating supportive interventions directed toward nurse assistants in residential care, valid and reliable instruments are needed in order to detect possible changes. The aim of the study was to investigate validity in terms of data quality, construct validity, convergent and divergent validity and reliability in terms of the internal consistency and stability of the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Psychosocial Aspects of Job Satisfaction, the Strain in Dementia Care Scale (SDCS), and the Stress of Conscience Questionnaire (SCQ) in a residential care context. The psychometric properties of the instruments were investigated in terms of data quality, construct validity, convergent and divergent validity and reliability, including test–retest reliability, in a residential care context with a sample consisting of nurse assistants (n = 114). The four instruments responded with different psychometric-related problems such as internal missing data, floor and ceiling effects, problems with construct validity and low test–retest reliability, especially when assessed on the item level. These problems were however reduced or disappeared completely when assessed for total and factor scores. From a psychometric perspective, the SDCS seemed to stand out as the best instrument. However, it should be modified in order to reduce floor effects on item level and thereby gain sensitivity. The Job Satisfaction Questionnaire seemed to have problems both with the construct validity and test–retest reliability. The final choice of instrument must, however, be made dependent on what one intends to measure.

Wallin AO, Edberg A-K, Beck I, Jakobsson u. Psychometric properties concerning four instruments measuring job satisfaction, strain, and stress of conscience in a residential care context. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2013 May 2. doi:pii: S0167-4943(13)00049-6. 10.1016/j.archger.2013.04.001. [Epub ahead of print]

Revalidation of the perceptions of conscience questionnaire (PCQ) and the stress of conscience questionnaire (SCQ)

Johan Ahlin, Eva Ericson-Lidman, Astrid Norberg, Gunilla Strandberg

Nursing Ethics
Nursing Ethics

Abstract
The Perceptions of Conscience Questionnaire (PCQ) and the Stress of Conscience Questionnaire (SCQ) have previously been developed and validated within the ‘Stress of Conscience Study’. The aim was to revalidate these two questionnaires, including two additional, theoretically and empirically significant items, on a sample of healthcare personnel working in direct contact with patients.The sample consisted of 503 healthcare personnel.To test variation and distribution among the answers, descriptive statistics, item analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to examine the underlying factor structure of the questionnaires.Support for adding the new item to the PCQ was found.No support was found for adding the new item to the SCQ. Both questionnaires can be regarded as valid for Swedish settings but can be improved by rephrasing some of the PCQ items and by adding items about private life to the SCQ.

Ahlin J, Ericson-Lidman E, Norberg A, Strandberg G. Revalidation of the perceptions of conscience questionnaire (PCQ) and the stress of conscience questionnaire (SCQ). Nurs Ethics. 2012;19(2):220-232.