Designing and validating a tool to assess environmental risk factors affecting hospitalized patients

ABSTRACT

The nature of the ICU environment is a strange place with its noises, equipment, constant activity, and bright lights. The present study aimed to design and validate a tool to assess environmental risk factors affecting hospitalized patients. This study was conducted in four Intensive care units [Surgical, Medical, Cardiac and Neurology] at As-Salam International Hospital, one tool was used in the this study. This was an opinionnaire sheet. The design of this study was a Methodological research design. The subject included in this study was the jury group. The present study tested the validity of the proposed tool based on jury opinions, factor analysis, also tested the reliability through Cronbach's alpha coefficient, test and re test. Findings indicated that majority of jury group agreed upon the general form [face validity] of the environmental risk factors tool, the jury agreement ranged between [88.9% to 100%] Also, the results reflected that majority of jury group agreed upon all environmental risk factors assessment items, the jury agreement ranged between [91.7% and 97.9%]. Reliability was assessed through estimating internal consistency [Cronbach alpha coefficient], which proved to be high. The study finding provides accurate, dependable, helpful, practical and truthful instrument that can be used to assess the environmental risk factors. It is recommended that the environmental risk factors assessment tool should be provided for each department in health organization. Generalize the designed tool to be used in other hospitals in the country. The environmental safety concept should be addressed by all level of health team. Further studies are needed for testing the applicability of the tool in the sittings