Development of the Quality of Life Scale for Shift-working Nurses

Abstract

Background and aim: Shift work is known to have a significant impact on the health and well-being of nurses, and there is a need for practical tools to assess this impact. This study introduces the Quality of Life Scale for Shift-Working Nurses (QoLS-SWN), which was developed to provide a reliable and valid tool for assessing the effects of shift work on nurses' health and well-being. Methods: This study employed a methodological research design to develop and validate a new scale for assessing the quality of life of shift-working nurses. Data were collected from two samples of nurses working in various hospitals. The first sample (n = 202) was used for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify the scale's underlying factor structure. The second sample (n = 246) was used for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to validate the identified structure. The development process included an extensive literature review, expert consultations, and pilot testing. Factor analysis and reliability tests were conducted to ensure that the scale is highly reliable. Results: The QoLS-SWN demonstrated excellent reliability, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.95, and factor loadings ranging from 0.56 to 0.90. The scale comprises three dimensions: physical and mental exhaustion, health risks and job safety, and social and psychological interactions, explaining 71.89% of the total variance. CFA affirmed the structural validity of the scale, with fit indices indicating a good model fit (CMIN/df = 2.33, GFI = 0.86, IFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.94, CFI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.07). Conclusion: The QoLS-SWN is a reliable and valid tool for measuring the impact of shift work on nurses' quality of life. By providing insights into the multifaceted consequences of shift work, the scale may guide the development of targeted interventions to enhance nurses' quality of life. This scale can inform nursing practice and policy, ultimately improving nurse well-being and patient care outcomes. (c) 2024 Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Institute, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).