Assessing the validity of questionnaire scales designed to assess the organisation of nursing in acute care hospital wards

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the validity of a nurses' opinion questionnaire designed to measure organisational features of hospital wards. Data collection tools were developed for an asessment of the physical environment, observation of nurses and patients, and observations of ward rounds and handovers. Data from the study were compared with the responses from questionnaires completed by ward staff. The findings were encouraging but not conclusive. Although a degree of support for the initial criterion validation of the scales of the nurses' opinion scales was evident, further studies are advisable. The study raises issues relating to the assessment of criterion validity, and these are discussed.