Validity testing of a tool for assessing nurse safety behaviour against blood borne infections

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to develop and verify a tool for assessing nurse safety behaviour against blood borne infections.

Design: A cross-sectional correlation study design was used.

Setting and Subjects: Items were developed based on reviews of related literature, published guidelines regarding the prevention of blood borne infections, and existing tools designed to assess compliance with blood borne infection control precautions.
Face and content validities of the tool was assessed by expert panels. Construct validity and reliability were examined on 320 staff and charge nurses whose duties involved direct contact with patients.

Results: A 12-item, 5-point Likert-type assessment tool of nurse safety behaviour against blood borne infections was devised. Construct validity, which was investigated by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability of the devised tool were well supported. The devised tool has a three-factor structure, ‘use of personal protective equipment’, ‘hygiene’, and ‘compliance with precautions’. These factors were found to be interrelated, were not independent of each other, and their correlations and loading coefficients indicated good discriminant and convergent validities.

Conclusion: The devised 12-item assessment tool offers a clinically useful means of properly assessing safety related behaviours, and provides specific guidelines for preventive practices that should be followed by healthcare workers.