Development and psychometric testing of the relational inquiry capacities scale

Younas, Ahtisham (2017) Development and psychometric testing of the relational inquiry capacities scale. Practicum Report. Memorial University of Newfoundland. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Background: One of the major challenges of nursing educators is adequately preparing students to nurse effectively and efficiently within a demanding health care system. Relational Inquiry, a new nursing practice approach, prompts nursing students to embrace the complexity through reflecting on a patient’s situation at intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual levels. However, students must be equipped with several capacities such as “compassion” and “curiosity,” to practice from this approach yet there are no instruments to assess these necessary capacities. The Relational Inquiry Capacities Scale (RICS) was developed to address this gap. Purpose: To develop the RICS and to determine the scale’s psychometric properties. Methods: The RICS was developed using Relational Inquiry as the guiding framework; an integrated literature review of existing scales that measure any of the relational capacities; a modified Delphi technique of expert consultations with Relational Inquiry scholars; and, assessment of the scale’s readability and comprehension by one linguist, two laypersons, and five nursing students. Psychometric testing was completed through a pilot study by distributing the scale to a sample of nursing students from three nursing schools. Findings: Based on the Relational Inquiry approach, an integrative literature review, and the modified Delphi technique, the RICS item pool was revised resulting in 73 items under six subscales: compassion, self-compassion, curious, competence, commitment and correspondence. Psychometric testing indicated that nine items should be excluded from the RICS. Conclusion: The RICS is a good measurement instrument and it is recommended that it be employed by nursing educators to assess the extent to which nursing students have acquired the relational capacities necessary for quality nursing care delivery.

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