title: Factorial Validity of the Decisional Involvement Scale as a Measure of Content and Context of Nursing Practice.
abstract: Decisional involvement is widely recognized as an essential component of a professional nursing practice environment. In recent years, researchers have added to the conceptualization of nurses' role in decision-making to differentiate between the content and context of nursing practice. Yet, instruments that clearly distinguish between these two dimensions of practice are lacking. The purpose of this study was to examine the factorial validity of the Decisional Involvement Scale (DIS) as a measure of both the content and context of nursing practice. This secondary analysis was conducted using data from a longitudinal action research project to improve the quality of nursing practice and patient care in six hospitals (N = 1,034) in medically underserved counties of Pennsylvania. A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the parent study was used to compare the factor structure of two models (one nested within the other) using confirmatory factor analysis. Although a comparison of the two models indicated that the addition of second-order factors for the content and context of nursing practice improved model fit, neither model provided optimal fit to the data. Additional model-generating research is needed to develop the DIS as a valid measure of decisional involvement for both the content and context of nursing practice.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, College of Behavioral & Social Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, 27707.
authors.forename: Leo A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Yurek
authors.affiliation: Professor and Interim Dean, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Donna S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Havens
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Statistical Sciences & Operational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
authors.forename: Spencer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hays
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
authors.forename: Linda C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011594:Psychometrics; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: empowerment; nursing practice environment; shared governance; staff nurse decisional involvement