Validation of the Nurse Spiritual Care Therapeutics Scale in Portuguese palliative care settings: a methodological study

Abstract

Background: Spirituality is a critical dimension in palliative care, but difficulties have been described in literature concerning the effective implementation and measuring of spiritual care. Aim: To translate, adapt and validate the Nurse Spiritual Care Therapeutics Scale (NSCTS) in Portuguese palliative care settings. Methods: A methodological study was conducted. A final version of the questionnaire included the scale and was submitted to full psychometric testing using nurses working in Portuguese palliative care settings. Findings: A total of 88 nurses participated. The average age of the sample was 36.1 ± 8.93 years (range 23-60 years), and 92.0% were women. A Cronbach alpha value of 0.88; Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy 0.80; and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity were adequate. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted using principal axis factoring with an oblimin rotation that resulted in a three-factors solution. Conclusion: The European Portuguese NSCTS questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool to assess the frequency of nurses' activities concerning spirituality in palliative care.