Psychometric validation of the organizational climate construct in high-complexity hospitals in Chile and Ecuador

This study aimed to psychometrically validate the construct of organizational climate in high-complexity hospitals in Chile and Ecuador. In both Chile and Ecuador, healthcare institutions, whether public or private, are organized according to levels of complexity. Consequently, considering the coverage and impact of services, the study focused on high-complexity institutions. A descriptive and correlational non-experimental study was conducted, applying exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to confirm the underlying factor structure. Procedurally, a 27-item Likert-scale questionnaire was administered to a sample of 1,222 participants selected through convenience sampling, segmented into two parts: 639 from Chile and 583 from Ecuador. The findings confirmed adequate psychometric properties of the instrument in both contexts, including satisfactory reliability, factorial validity, and structural consistency across the analyzed hospital samples. In Chile, these factors are: 1. Support for management and work environment, 2. Tensions and conflicts, and 3. Support for intrapreneurship. In Ecuador, the factors are: 1. Relationships, friendship, and growth, 2. Collaboration, respectful treatment, support, and trust, and 3. Support for intrapreneurship. Finally, it is concluded that the first factor assumes an active, independent role; the second factor occupies a mediating role; and the third is established as endogenous or dependent. These three factors, in each context, establish relationships and mutual influences, forming an organizational climate construct duly confirmed in their respective realities. In summary, and in accordance with the findings of this study, a wide range of possibilities opens up for new scientific research in the health sector. It is suggested that this research could focus on primary care segments due to their coverage, dispersion, and diversity of services, as well as potentially conducting comparative studies of organizational climate in public or private institutions located in Latin American countries.