title: Construct validity and reliability of the Single Checking Administration of Medications Scale.
abstract: Research indicates that single checking of medications is as safe as double checking; however, many nurses are averse to independently checking medications. To assist with the introduction and use of single checking, a measure of nurses' attitudes, the thirteen-item Single Checking Administration of Medications Scale (SCAMS) was developed. We examined the psychometric properties of the SCAMS. Secondary analyses were conducted on data collected from 503 nurses across a large Australian health-care service. Analyses using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported by structural equation modelling resulted in a valid twelve-item SCAMS containing two reliable subscales, the nine-item Attitudes towards single checking and three-item Advantages of single checking subscales. The SCAMS is recommended as a valid and reliable measure for monitoring nurses' attitudes to single checking prior to introducing single checking medications and after its implementation.
authors.affiliation: Deakin University-Melbourne Campus, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. hawkinsm@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: Cherene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ockerby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009740:Nursing Staff; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations