Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Elderly Dignity Questionnaire

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Nursing
• Psychometrics
• Sociology

Background:

• Respect for dignity is fundamental in nursing care.
• Assessing dignity enhances nurses' understanding of patient needs.
• No culturally appropriate instrument existed for dignity assessment in Iranian elderly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Elderly Dignity Questionnaire (EDQ).
• To provide a valid and reliable tool for dignity assessment in the elderly population in Iran.

Main Methods:

• Item generation based on qualitative study and literature review.
• Content and face validity assessed by experts.
• Exploratory factor analysis (n=200) and criterion validity (Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale) conducted.
• Reliability tested via internal consistency and test-retest stability (n=20).

Main Results:

• Factor analysis yielded a 40-item EDQ with five factors: roles/responsibilities, familial/social relationships, self-dignity, authorization, and independence/integrity.
• Cronbach's alpha was 0.91, and intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.86, indicating high reliability.
• The EDQ demonstrated strong validity and reliability.

Conclusions:

• The developed Elderly Dignity Questionnaire (EDQ) is valid and reliable.
• The EDQ is suitable for assessing dignity among elderly individuals in Iran.
• This tool can improve nursing care by facilitating dignity assessment.