Validity and Reliability of the Spirituality in Palliative Care Scale (SPCS) for Nursing Students in Turkey:...

This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Spirituality in Palliative Care Scale for nursing students and assess its applicability in clinical settings. Using a descriptive, cross-sectional, and methodological research design, the study was conducted with nursing students between January 2023 and June 2023, involving a total of 115 third- and fourth-year nursing students. Data were collected using a personal information form and the Spirituality in Palliative Care Scale. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed the scale's three-factor structure (holistic collaborative care, faith-driven care and guidance, and emotional awareness and spiritual conviction), consisting of 11 items. Confirmatory factor analysis validated the structure, and the scale demonstrated high reliability. The Turkish version of the Spirituality in Palliative Care Scale demonstrated robust psychometric properties among nursing students. The scale shows promise for use in nursing education and may serve as a foundation for future cross-cultural adaptation and multinational validation studies. While the item content appears conceptually relevant for registered nurses in clinical settings, the scale has not yet been validated in that population. Therefore, further psychometric testing is required before it can be recommended for use with practicing nurses. This scale provides nursing educators with a valid tool to assess spiritual care competencies among students, enabling targeted educational interventions. Since the item content appears conceptually relevant for registered nurses in clinical settings, the scale could potentially be adapted and validated for use among this population in future studies.