Construction and validation of the escala de comportamentos de abordagem aos média por enfermeiros (scale of media use behaviours by nurses)

Abstract

Theoretical framework Media messages about healthcare in Portugal tend to undervalue the nurses' contributions and may lead to reductive representations of the sector. Understanding how nurses deal with the media is essential to characterise this issue. Objectives: To build and validate the Escala de Comportamentos de Abordagem aos Média por Enfermeiros (Scale of Media Use Behaviours by Nurses). Methodology: A methodological study was conducted using a sample of nurses from the same social network (n=528). The validation process included factor analysis, as well as the analysis of internal consistency and temporal stability. Results: We obtained a scale composed of 23 items divided into 5 factors, which explain 70.98% of the variance. The scale shows a good internal consistency and an acceptable temporal stability. Conclusion: The instrument proved to be valid and reliable. The development of educational programs about media approach may help nurses to publicly disseminate the value and the contributions of the profession.