Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Validation of the French-Language "Barriers to Nurses' Use of Physical...

Physical assessment is a fundamental component of nursing practice, yet various barriers can limit its use in clinical settings.

To evaluate the construct validity and reliability of a culturally adapted, French-language version of the Barriers to Nurses' Use of Physical Assessment Scale.

We conducted a cultural adaptation and validation study, using secondary data analysis. Data were collected using three cross-sectional surveys conducted among nurses working in surgical, geriatrics and rehabilitation units in French-speaking Switzerland (N = 246). Psychometric evaluations included both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to assess construct validity, and Cronbach's alpha was calculated to determine internal consistency.

The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin sampling adequacy value was 0.848, and Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (p < .001), confirming the data's suitability for factor analysis. We identified a seven-factor structure (similar to the original scale) that explained 54.6% of the total variance. The 38-item scale's overall internal consistency was excellent (α = .89). However, the Speciality Area (α = .47) and Ward Culture (α = .29) subscales demonstrated lower reliability, indicating a need for further refinement.

The French-language version of the Barriers to Nurses' Use of Physical Assessment Scale is a reliable, valid instrument for measuring nurses' perceptions of the barriers to them using their physical assessment skills. Further research is recommended to improve the internal consistency of some subscales and to validate these findings across diverse clinical settings.

This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.