Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Skin-to-Skin Contact Scale for nurses.

Rationale: Skin-to-skin contact is the practice with the highest level of evidence that increases the growth, development, and healing rate of the newborn. Neonatal nurses are also the best practitioners of skin-to-skin contact.

Aims: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Skin-to-Skin Contact Scale for nurses.

Methods: This descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study was carried out with 226 neonatal and pediatric nurses between July 2022 and July 2023. The data were collected using an online questionnaire, including a descriptive information form and a skin-to-skin contact scale for nurses. Data were analyzed by explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and item-total score analysis.

Results: It was determined that the scale consisted of 20 items and four sub-dimensions and that those four sub-dimensions explained 53.01% of the total variance. All factor loads were higher than 0.30 in the explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses. All the fit indices were higher than 0.80, and the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) was less than 0.080 in the confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach's alpha was determined to be 0.89 for the total scale and greater than 0.70 for all sub-dimensions.

Conclusions: The Skin-to-Skin Contact Scale for nurses was determined to be a valid and reliable measurement tool for Turkish nurses. It is recommended that the scale be used regularly in clinics to determine nurses' attitudes towards skin-to-skin contact.