Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Migrant Health Competency Scale for Nurses

Abstract

Aim: This methodological study aimed to develop the Migrant Health Competency Scale for Nurses (MHCSN) and evaluate its validity and reliability.

Methods: The study was conducted with a total of 600 nurses, including 301 nurses from Erzurum City Hospital, 225 nurses from Atatürk University Research Hospital, and 74 nurses working in Family Health Centers in Erzurum, Türkiye. Data were collected using a demographic information form and a preliminary 31-item scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 and AMOS. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and reliability analyses were performed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale.

Results: The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy was 0.912, indicating excellent suitability for factor analysis. The final scale consisted of 29 items organized into seven subscales, explaining 55.388% of the total variance. Factor loadings ranged from 0.456 to 0.739. The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.902, while the Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the subscales ranged from 0.62 to 0.79, demonstrating acceptable to good internal consistency.

Conclusion: The Migrant Health Competency Scale for Nurses (MHCSN) is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing nurses' competencies in migrant health. Future studies are recommended to further evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale in different cultural settings and among more diverse nursing populations.