title: Translation and psychometric evaluation of a French version of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the reliability and the factor structure of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale-French version.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The patient's perspective is essential when assessing risk for adverse events at hospital discharge. Developed in the USA, the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale is the only instrument that measures an individual's self-perception of readiness before leaving the hospital. A French version of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale was developed and validated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 265 older inpatients from four medical units was selected. The translation and cultural adaptation of the scale involved experts in gerontology and the French language and included back translation. The items were semantically evaluated and pretested in 10 older inpatients. The scale's psychometric properties were internally validated by using confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. Reliability was assessed by examining the internal consistency of its items.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Goodness-of-fit indices of the confirmatory factor analyses were not adequate, but reliability was acceptable (Cronbach's α = 0·80). Exploratory factor analysis of the French version provided results close to those described for the English version, with three similar subscales (physical and emotional readiness, coping with medical treatment and personal care), whereas the initially described Expected Support subscale was not identified in the French version.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale-French version appears to be partially consistent with its original English version, but requires additional adaptation to fully take into account the Swiss context and culture to achieve its original aim.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessing patient readiness for hospital discharge before leaving hospital could help nurses to improve the discharge planning process and achieve better patient preparedness and care coordination.
authors.affiliation: University of Health Sciences (HESAV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Cedric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mabire
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lecerf
authors.affiliation: Service of Geriatric Medicine and Geriatric Rehabilitation, University of Lausanne Hospital Centre - CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Büla
authors.affiliation: Institute of Higher Education and Nursing Research, Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nursing, Zurich University of Applied Sciences Winterthur, Winterthur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Genevieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blanc
authors.affiliation: University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goulet
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012648:Self Care; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations
keywords: Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale; discharge planning; internal validity; nursing; older people; psychometric evaluation