Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of the Chinese version of the Nursing Handoff Competency Scale.
Gao Jie J, Zhao Yingying Y, Yang Meng M, Jiang Yao Y et al.
Nursing handoff is critical for patient safety but faces challenges like unstructured communication. While standardized assessment tools exist internationally, China lacks such a tool for evaluating handoff competency. This study aimed to translate and validate the Nursing Handoff Competency Scale (NHCS) for use in China. A methodological study comprising cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation. Following the Brislin model, the NHCS was translated and cross-culturally adapted via Delphi expert consultation (18 experts) and pilot testing (10 nurses). Psychometric evaluation involved 285 nurses from tertiary hospitals. Content validity, construct validity, internal consistency (Cronbach alpha and McDonald omega), and split-half reliability were assessed. The final 23-item, four-dimensional scale showed acceptable content validity (S-CVI = 0.961, modified kappa = 0.833-1.000), internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.977, McDonald's ω = 0.979), and a four-factor structure explaining 84.639% of variance. CFA indicated acceptable fit (χ2/df = 2.666, RMSEA = 0.077, CFI = 0.958, TLI = 0.952). The Chinese NHCS demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, providing initial evidence for assessing nursing handoff competency in China. Further validation in diverse settings is recommended.