Development of the observational kangaroo care assessment scale (OKCAS): A validity and reliability study

This study aimed to develop the Observational Kangaroo Care Assessment Scale (OKCAS) and evaluate its psychometric properties.

This methodological study was conducted with 562 newborns and their families who received care and treatment in the obstetrics and gynecology department of a university hospital. Data were collected using the "Family and Newborn Identification Information Form" and "OKCAS," "The Kangaroo Care Comfort Scale (KCCS)," and "The Newborn Comfort Behavior Scale (COMFORTneo)." In the psychometric analysis of the scale, content validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and McDonald's Omega coefficient were evaluated. Additionally, inter-observer reliability was determined using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC).

For OKCAS, KMO = 0.955 and Bartlett's test χ² = 1772.423, p < 0.001 were found. As a result of Exploratory Factor Analysis, it was determined that the scale showed a single-factor structure; the eigenvalue was 6.259 and the total variance explained was 62.594%. In the confirmatory analysis, the model fit indices were calculated as χ² = 83.359, df = 35, χ²/df = 2.382, RMSEA = 0.070, NFI = 0.949, CFI = 0.970, IFI = 0.970, TLI = 0.961, and GFI = 0.944. The scale has high internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.928; McDonald ω = 0.929). Spearman-Brown = 0.928, Guttman = 0.925, and the two-half correlation is r = 0.966. The ICC value for agreement between two observers is 0.962.

Findings indicated that the developed scale is a valid and reliable tool. The scale will enable the objective assessment of the position in which kangaroo care is implemented effectively.

During OKCAS kangaroo care, it determines the appropriate position for the comfort and health of the kangaroo caregiver and newborns.