Development of a competency scale for occupational health nurses and verification of reliability and validity

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to develop a competency scale for occupational health nurses and to verify the reliability and validity of it. Methods: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was sent to 375 occupational health nurses, to collect 211 data ( response rate:56.3%). First, item analysis and factor analysis were conducted based on the 40 scale items that we clarified in the previous research, and the scale items were determined. Next, the face validity, construct validity, criterion-related validity and reliability were verified. Results·Discussion：① Thirty-six items were confirmed as the scale items. ② In all items, the passing rate exceeded 97%, and we thought that the face validity was verified. We considered that “occupational health nursing essential activities competency,” “creative competency” and “self-growth competency” extracted as results of factor analysis were consistent with the competency requirements, so the construct validity was guaranteed, and since there was a correlation between the total score and the years of occupational health nursing experience, criterion-related validity was suggested. ③Cronbach’s coefficient was 0.9 or more in all three factors, therefore we considered that reliability was verified. Conclusion: Reliability and validity of the competency scale for occupational health nurses which we have developed was verified.