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Original Research

The German version of the Individualized Care Scale – assessing validity and reliability

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Pages 483-494 | Published online: 23 Mar 2015
 

Abstract

Aim

To assess validity and reliability of the German version of the Individualized Care Scale (ICS).

Background

Individualized nursing care plays a pivotal role in establishing patient-centered care. To assess individualized nursing care and to compare it in different settings and countries, valid and reliable instruments are needed. No psychometric-tested instrument for comparing individualized nursing care with other countries is available in Germany.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

Data were collected between September 2013 and June 2014 from 606 patients in 20 wards in five hospitals across Germany. Unidimensionality of the ICS scales ICSA (patients’ views on how individuality is supported through nursing interventions) and ICSB (patients’ perceptions of individualized nursing care) was analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was assessed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha. The Smoliner Scale (patients’ perceptions of the decision-making process in nursing care) and results from participating hospitals’ assessment of the nursing care delivery systems were used to assess known-groups validity and concurrent validity.

Results

Fit indices of confirmatory factor analysis indicate unidimensionality of the ICSA (Comparative Fit Index: 0.92; Tucker-Lewis Index: 0.902; root mean square error of approximation: 0.09; standardized root mean square residual: 0.05) and the ICSB (Comparative Fit Index: 0.91; Tucker-Lewis Index: 0.89; root mean square error of approximation: 0.09; standardized root mean square residual: 0.05). Internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha was 0.95 (95% confidence interval: 0.94–0.95) for ICSA and 0.93 (95% confidence interval: 0.92–0.94) for the ICSB. Concurrent validity was established by a significant relationship between the Smoliner Scale and ICSA (r=0.66; P<0.01) and ICSB (r=0.72; P<0.01). Known-groups validity was approved by ICSA/ICSB score differences related to nursing care delivery systems and patients’ perceptions of decision-making style.

Conclusion

The German version of the ICS is deemed a valid and reliable instrument for use in practice and research with hospitalized patients.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the participating patients for their cooperation. We are also deeply grateful to all the nurses who recruited patients for this study, and to the nursing directors at participating hospitals for giving us the opportunity to conduct this study.

Funding

The study was funded by the young scientists’ program of the German network “Health Services Research Baden-Württemberg” of the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts, in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Social Order, Family, Women and Senior Citizens, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

The article processing charge was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg in the funding programme Open Access Publishing.

Disclosure

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.