Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Nurses' Spiritual Sensitivity Scale: A Methodological Study

Background: Nurses need a high level of spiritual sensitivity to adequately address the spiritual needs of patients and their families. Therefore, valid and reliable instruments for assessing nurses' spiritual sensitivity are essential.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Nurses’ Spiritual Sensitivity Scale and examine the associations between nurses’ sociodemographic and professional characteristics and their spiritual sensitivity scores.

Methods: The study included 330 nurses employed at a university hospital between February 20 and May 20, 2024. Data were collected using the Nurses’ Introductory Information Form and the Nurses' Spiritual Sensitivity Scale. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, content validity analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Cronbach’s alpha, intraclass correlation coefficients for test–retest reliability, and multiple linear regression analysis.

Results: The 20-item, two-factor structure explained 59.54% of the total variance. The scale demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.934).

Conclusion: The Turkish version of the Nurses' Spiritual Sensitivity Scale demonstrated psychometric properties comparable to those of the original instrument. The findings support its validity and reliability for assessing spiritual sensitivity among nurses.

Keywords: Nursing, reliability, spiritual sensitivity, validity