Digital hospital evaluation scale: A scale-development research study

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Psychometrics
• Digital Health

Background:

• Digital transformation in healthcare is rapidly evolving.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of digital hospitals is crucial for optimizing patient care and operational efficiency.
• Existing tools may not adequately capture the multifaceted aspects of digital hospital environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and psychometrically test a valid and reliable scale for healthcare professionals to evaluate digital hospitals.
• To assess the psychometric properties of the Digital Hospital Evaluation Scale.

Main Methods:

• A psychometric study involving 355 healthcare professionals in a public digital hospital in Turkey.
• Data collected via online survey (September-October 2023) using non-probability convenience sampling.
• Statistical analyses included item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), validity, and reliability tests (Cronbach's Alpha, test-retest).

Main Results:

• The scale achieved a content validity index of 0.92.
• EFA and CFA confirmed a 30-item, four-factor structure explaining 82.64% of the variance.
• High reliability was demonstrated with Cronbach's Alpha > 0.90 and strong test-retest results.

Conclusions:

• The Digital Hospital Evaluation Scale is a valid and reliable instrument.
• The scale can be effectively used by healthcare professionals to assess digital hospitals.