Adaptation of the "Self-Perceived Safety of Orthopedic Postsurgery Inpatients Scale" Into Turkish

Background and Purpose: Orthopedic surgery often results in temporary or permanent mobility limitations, affecting patients' ability to perform activities of daily living and shaping their perception of safety. Assessing patient-perceived safety is critical for improving clinical care and reducing preventable harm. This article aims to translate, culturally adapt, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the self-perceived safety of orthopedic postsurgery inpatients scale (SPSOPSIS) for use in the Turkish population. Methods: A total of 221 orthopedic postsurgery inpatients from a university hospital participated. The scale was translated and culturally adapted following established guidelines. Content validity was assessed through expert evaluation (content validity index = .89). Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity were examined. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with varimax rotation was conducted to verify the factor structure. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews on the second postoperative day. Results: The Turkish version of the SPSOPSIS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .94) and strong temporal stability (Kappa = .89). Item-total correlations ranged from .68 to .99. EFA confirmed a six-factor structure consistent with the original scale, explaining 79.96% of the total variance. All items were retained, confirming the instrument's suitability for use in the Turkish context. Conclusion: The Turkish SPSOPSIS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing postoperative orthopedic patients' perceptions of safety. It can support nursing practice by identifying patient-centered safety risks, guiding clinical interventions, and strengthening nursing education on patient safety awareness. Future studies should evaluate its applicability across diverse health care settings and surgical populations to enhance generalizability.