Validity and Reliability of the Turkish version of the Surrogate Decision Needs Scale for ICU Patient Relatives

In intensive care units (ICUs), patients are often unable to make medical decisions, requiring relatives to act as surrogate decision-makers, particularly for invasive procedures. However, there is no validated Turkish instrument to assess these needs. This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Surrogate Decision Needs Scale (SDNS). This methodological study was conducted in the intensive care unit of a state hospital in Türkiye between January and March 2026 and included 200 relatives of ICU patients. Content validity, construct validity and reliability were assessed using standard methods. Findings demonstrated high validity and reliability, with strong content validity (S-CVI = 0.98), good model fit indices (CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.057, TLI = 0.97) and strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.817). Test-retest reliability was also excellent (ICC = 0.931-0.965). The Turkish SDNS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing surrogate decision-making needs in ICU settings.