Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Psychometric analysis of the Comfort with Communication in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (C-COPE) instrument
Mary E Minton1, Mary J Isaacson2, Patricia Da Rosa1
1College of Nursing, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota.
Background:
Nurses must be comfortable facilitating palliative and end-of-life communication with patients and their families.
Aim:
A validated instrument measuring the comfort of nurses with conducting end-of-life communication is essential for meeting the goals and wishes of patient care. This study aimed to develop and conduct a psychometric evaluation of the Comfort with Communication in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (C-COPE) instrument.
Methods:
Face, content, and construct validity, including test-retest reliability, were conducted.
Results:
Four experts subjectively confirmed face content validity and the quantitative item content validity index (I-CVI) ranged from 0.67 to 1 and scale content validity index (S-CVI/Ave) was 0.98. Principal axis factoring with Promax rotation yielded a five-factor solution accounting for 66.2% of the variance. The items loading on the five factors ranged from 0.46-0.96 (factor 1), 0.67-0.93 (factor 2), 0.49-0.86 (factor 3), 0.68-0.79 (factor 4), and 0.24-0.96 (factor 5). Internal consistency reliability (coefficient a) was 0.90 for the total C-COPE, and above 0.75 for each factor. The five factors are 'cultural/spiritual considerations,' 'team considerations,' 'addressing decision-making,' 'addressing symptomatology,' and 'deliberate awareness.' Test-retest reliability yielded an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.87 (CI 95%, 0.82-0.91).
Conclusions:
The C-COPE is a reliable and valid instrument measuring nurse comfort with palliative and end of-life care communication, yet requires testing in more diverse samples.
Related Concept Videos
Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
Continuing Care
Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from...
Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this...
Cancer Survival Analysis
