Validation of a modified ambiance scale in nursing homes

Abstract

Objectives

We translated and modified an ambiance scale for use by (in)formal caregivers in Dutch nursing homes. We tested validity and reliability of the modified Ambiance Scale.

Method

Convenience sampling was used to enrol (in)formal caregivers in three nursing homes in the Netherlands. 104 questionnaires were filled in; 45 by informal caregivers, 46 by formal caregivers. Ten caregivers filled in the questionnaire twice for test-retest purposes. Three original items were used, and seven newly were added to form the modified Ambiance Scale. Each item consisted of an adjective pair assessing an aspect of ambiance on a scale of 1 (homelike) to 5 (institutional). Caregivers filled in the questionnaire on two different days to assess intra rater reliability. Differences in scoring between formal and informal caregivers and between original and new items were analyzed.

Results

The questionnaire was easy to comprehend and fill in. Internal consistency was good (a = 0.93). Validity was found to be good. Factor analysis demonstrated that eight items identified as one factor. No differences in scoring between the first and second assessment were found (p<.001). Formal caregivers scored ambiance more chaotic than informal caregivers did (p<.01). No differences in scoring between original and new items were found (p =.06).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that the modified Ambiance Scale had good internal consistency, moderate replicability and both informal and formal caregivers’ overall ratings were comparable. The modified Ambiance Scale is a valid, reliable and easy to use tool to assess ambiance in nursing home settings.

Keywords:

• Ambiance
• caregivers
• nursing homes
• questionnaire

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, J. Kosters. The data are not publicly available due to that they contain information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by ZonMw [733050833]. ZonMw had no involvement in collection, analysis, interpretation of data, writing the report or in the decision to submit the article for publication.