Development, reliability, and validity of the nurses’ conscientious objection attitude scale (COAS-N)

Abstract Background Conscientious objection poses ethical dilemmas frequently encountered by nurses, allowing them to prioritize personal beliefs in caregiving. However, it may also be viewed as a stance jeopardizing patients’ healthcare access. There is no measurement tool to measure conscientious...

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Main Authors: Seyhan Demir Karabulut, Şenay Gül, Eylem Gül Ateş, Zehra Göçmen Baykara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Medical Ethics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-024-01155-4
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author Seyhan Demir Karabulut
Şenay Gül
Eylem Gül Ateş
Zehra Göçmen Baykara
author_facet Seyhan Demir Karabulut
Şenay Gül
Eylem Gül Ateş
Zehra Göçmen Baykara
author_sort Seyhan Demir Karabulut
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Conscientious objection poses ethical dilemmas frequently encountered by nurses, allowing them to prioritize personal beliefs in caregiving. However, it may also be viewed as a stance jeopardizing patients’ healthcare access. There is no measurement tool to measure conscientious objection in nurses. This study aimed to develop a measurement tool for nurses’ conscientious objection attitudes. Methods This research is a methodological study conducted with a total of 261 nurses in Turkiye. Following content validity assessments by ten experts, a 29-item draft scale was developed. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses examined the factor structure, and reliability was assessed via the Spearman-Brown coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland Altman plot. Cronbach’s alpha estimated internal consistency and discrimination, which were evaluated by comparing lower and upper 27% groups. Results The Nurses’ Conscientious Objection Attitude Scale (COAS-N) comprises 29 items and three sub-dimensions (prioritizing professional values, prioritizing personal values, and requesting the right to conscientious objection). Cronbach’s alpha for the entire scale is 0.81. Conclusion Validity and reliability were established for the newly developed scale measuring nurses’ conscientious objection attitudes.
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spelling doaj-art-bf593c2c59e7418688687ddfeaa1497a2025-08-20T01:57:12ZengBMCBMC Medical Ethics1472-69392024-12-0125111110.1186/s12910-024-01155-4Development, reliability, and validity of the nurses’ conscientious objection attitude scale (COAS-N)Seyhan Demir Karabulut0Şenay Gül1Eylem Gül Ateş2Zehra Göçmen Baykara3Department of Medical History and Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent UniversityFundamentals of Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Hacettepe UniversityInstitutional Big Data Management Coordination Office, Middle East Technical UniversityFundamentals of Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Gazi UniversityAbstract Background Conscientious objection poses ethical dilemmas frequently encountered by nurses, allowing them to prioritize personal beliefs in caregiving. However, it may also be viewed as a stance jeopardizing patients’ healthcare access. There is no measurement tool to measure conscientious objection in nurses. This study aimed to develop a measurement tool for nurses’ conscientious objection attitudes. Methods This research is a methodological study conducted with a total of 261 nurses in Turkiye. Following content validity assessments by ten experts, a 29-item draft scale was developed. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses examined the factor structure, and reliability was assessed via the Spearman-Brown coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland Altman plot. Cronbach’s alpha estimated internal consistency and discrimination, which were evaluated by comparing lower and upper 27% groups. Results The Nurses’ Conscientious Objection Attitude Scale (COAS-N) comprises 29 items and three sub-dimensions (prioritizing professional values, prioritizing personal values, and requesting the right to conscientious objection). Cronbach’s alpha for the entire scale is 0.81. Conclusion Validity and reliability were established for the newly developed scale measuring nurses’ conscientious objection attitudes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-024-01155-4EthicsNursing careRefusing to careConscientious objectionScale developmentValidity
spellingShingle Seyhan Demir Karabulut
Şenay Gül
Eylem Gül Ateş
Zehra Göçmen Baykara
Development, reliability, and validity of the nurses’ conscientious objection attitude scale (COAS-N)
BMC Medical Ethics
Ethics
Nursing care
Refusing to care
Conscientious objection
Scale development
Validity
title Development, reliability, and validity of the nurses’ conscientious objection attitude scale (COAS-N)
title_full Development, reliability, and validity of the nurses’ conscientious objection attitude scale (COAS-N)
title_fullStr Development, reliability, and validity of the nurses’ conscientious objection attitude scale (COAS-N)
title_full_unstemmed Development, reliability, and validity of the nurses’ conscientious objection attitude scale (COAS-N)
title_short Development, reliability, and validity of the nurses’ conscientious objection attitude scale (COAS-N)
title_sort development reliability and validity of the nurses conscientious objection attitude scale coas n
topic Ethics
Nursing care
Refusing to care
Conscientious objection
Scale development
Validity
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-024-01155-4
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