Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2025

E-Patient Counseling Trial E-PACO: Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Development, reliability, and validity of the nurses' conscientious objection attitude scale (COAS-N)
Seyhan Demir Karabulut1, Şenay Gül2, Eylem Gül Ateş3
1Department of Medical History and Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey. sdkarabulut@baskent.edu.tr.
Background:
Conscientious objection poses ethical dilemmas frequently encountered by nurses, allowing them to prioritize personal beliefs in caregiving. However, it may also be viewed as a stance jeopardizing patients' healthcare access. There is no measurement tool to measure conscientious objection in nurses. This study aimed to develop a measurement tool for nurses' conscientious objection attitudes.
Methods:
This research is a methodological study conducted with a total of 261 nurses in Turkiye. Following content validity assessments by ten experts, a 29-item draft scale was developed. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses examined the factor structure, and reliability was assessed via the Spearman-Brown coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland Altman plot. Cronbach's alpha estimated internal consistency and discrimination, which were evaluated by comparing lower and upper 27% groups.
Results:
The Nurses' Conscientious Objection Attitude Scale (COAS-N) comprises 29 items and three sub-dimensions (prioritizing professional values, prioritizing personal values, and requesting the right to conscientious objection). Cronbach's alpha for the entire scale is 0.81.
Conclusion:
Validity and reliability were established for the newly developed scale measuring nurses' conscientious objection attitudes.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Obedience
Nursing Code of Ethics
Ethical Dilemmas I
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
Ethical Standards I
The Code of Ethics provisions outline the nurse's duty to the patient, the healthcare team, the profession, and society. The Code's fundamental principles include advocacy,...
Accountability and Responsibility of a Nurse II
For example, a nurse demonstrating respect and compassion might listen attentively to a patient's concerns, provide...
National Nursing Organizations II
The AACN emphasizes a healthy work environment through six standards to achieve an optimal patient outcome. The standards are appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, collaboration, authentic leadership, effective communication, and decision-making. In addition, AACN provides certification programs, webinars, journals, and...

