Psychometric properties of the Korean version of ComOn coaching for oncology nurses

The available tools to assess the communication skills of oncology nurses are limited, and the ComOn Coaching scale may be appropriate for this purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the ComOn Coaching scale from a patient-centered perspective.

The participants were 296 oncology nurses and 42 nursing students. To assess construct, convergent, criterion, and known-group validities and the reliability of the ComOn Coaching scale, the Patient Care Communication Scale, the Korean version of the Watson Caritas Patient Score, and Cancer Survivor Integrated Supportive Care Competence were used. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. Pearson correlation coefficients and Cronbach's alpha values were calculated. Differential item functions were analyzed.

Three factors were extracted from 12 items, and the cumulative variance was 58.8% of the total variance. The three extracted factors were based on the contents of the original scale: Factor 1, Structure of conversation; Factor 2, Building rapport; and Factor 3, Verbal communications skills. Confirmatory factor analysis verified the construct validity of the instrument [χ²/df ​= ​1.60, standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) ​= ​0.06, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) ​= ​0.06, goodness of fit index (GFI) ​= ​0.92, Turker Lewis Index (TLI) ​= ​0.93, and comparative fit index (CFI) ​= ​0.95].

The Korean ComOn Coaching scale may be a useful self-checking tool for the communication skills of oncology nurses. Repeated use of the Korean ComOn Coaching scale can provide practical information for developing a communication skills program for these professionals and testing its outcomes in the clinical setting.