Development and validation of the Short Professional Quality of Life Scale based on versions IV and V of the Professional Quality of Life Scale.

BACKGROUND: This research presents a short version of the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale, one of the most frequently used questionnaires in the arena of applied healthcare investigation. It measures burnout (BO), compassion fatigue (CF), and compassion satisfaction (CS). METHODS: A 9-item version of the ProQOL was developed. In Study 1, this short version, which used items from version IV of the ProQOL, was administered to 817 palliative care professionals from Spain, Argentina, and Brazil. In Study 2, the same nine items, but this time from version V of the ProQOL, were administered to 296 Spanish palliative care professionals. RESULTS: Study 1: The Short ProQOL showed an adequate internal structure, and invariance across the countries studied (χ2(106) = 185.620 (p < 0.001), CFI = .929, RMSEA = 0.058 [0.044, 0.072], SRMR = 0.081). Argentinians showed higher levels of BO (mean difference = 0.172, p = 0.042, Cohen's d = 0.168), whereas Brazilians showed higher levels of CF (Mean difference = 0.384, p = 0.002, Cohen's d = 0.352). Study 2: the Short ProQOL again showed adequate internal structure and reliability (χ2(24) = 134.504 (p < 0.001); CFI = 0.953; RMSEA = 0.126 [0.106, 0.147]; SRMR = 0.063), and was related to coping with death, self-compassion, and self-care. CONCLUSIONS: The Short ProQOL could help facilitate the application of harmonizing measurements and its use for cross-cultural comparisons and occupational health monitoring was satisfactory.

A Brief Measure for the Assessment of Competence in Coping With Death: The Coping With Death Scale Short Version.

CONTEXT: The coping with death competence is of great importance for palliative care professionals, who face daily exposure to death. It can keep them from suffering compassion fatigue and burnout, thus enhancing the quality of the care provided. Despite its relevance, there are only two measures of professionals' ability to cope with death. Specifically, the Coping with Death Scale (CDS) has repeatedly shown psychometric problems with some of its items. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a short version of the CDS. METHODS: Nine items from the original CDS were chosen for the short version. Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Spanish (N = 385) and Argentinian (N = 273) palliative care professionals. The CDS and the Professional Quality of Life Scale were used in this study. Statistical analyses included two confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs), followed by a standard measurement invariance routine. Reliability estimates and evidence of validity based on relations with other measures were also gathered. RESULTS: CFA models had excellent fit in both the Spanish (χ2(27) = 107.043, P < 0.001; Comparative Fit Index [CFI] = 0.978; Tucker-Lewis Index [TLI] = 0.970; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation [RMSEA] = 0.093 [0.075, 0.112]; Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.030) and Argentinian (χ2(27) = 102.982, P < 0.001; CFI = 0.963; TLI = 0.950; RMSEA = 0.106 [0.085, 0.128]) samples. A standard measurement invariance routine was carried out. The most parsimonious model (χ2(117) = 191.738, P < 0.001; CFI = 0.987; TLI = 0.992; RMSEA = 0.046 [0.034, 0.058]; Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.043) offered evidence of invariance across countries, with no latent mean differences. Evidence of reliability and evidence of validity based on relations with other measures were also appropriate. CONCLUSION: Results indicated the psychometric boundaries of the short version of the CDS.

Evaluación psicométrica en profesionales de enfermería de cuidados paliativos / Psychometric Evaluation of Nursing Professionals Involved in Palliative Care / Avaliação psicométrica em profissionais de enfermagem de cuidados paliativos

RESUMEN Objetivo: validar las escalas de Bienestar Psicológico de Ryff en enfermería y relacionarlas con variables clave en calidad de vida laboral. Materiales y métodos: participaron por encuesta electrónica, autoadministrada anónima, 433 profesionales, 33,1% de ellos profesionales de enfermería (n = 123) en quienes se realizó el estudio. Además de los datos sociodemográficos, se recogió información sobre bienestar psicológico, atención consciente, afrontamiento de la muerte y calidad de vida. La validez de constructo fue evaluada con análisis factorial confirmatorio. Se estimó fiabilidad y se recogieron evidencias de validez externa. Resultados: el modelo mostró ajuste adecuado: X2(362) = 438,59 (p = 0,01), CFI = 0,98, RMSEA = 0,05 (0,03-0,06) y fiabilidad adecuada para todas las dimensiones, excepto autonomía. Las dimensiones de bienestar se relacionaron moderada y positivamente con autoconciencia, afrontamiento ante la muerte y satisfacción por compasión, y negativamente con fatiga por compasión y burnout. Se destacan las relaciones entre dominio del entorno y burnout (-0,54) y propósito en la vida con satisfacción (0,54) y con afrontamiento de la muerte (0,50). Conclusiones: los resultados apoyan el uso de estas escalas en enfermería, pues muestran adecuada fiabilidad y validez, y varias de ellas explican hasta una cuarta parte de indicadores relevantes en salud laboral como burnout o satisfacción vital.

ABSTRACT Objective: The study was intended to validate Ryff's psychological well-being scales in nursing and to relate them to key variables in the quality of life at work. Materials and method: Four hundred thirty-three (433) professionals took part through an anonymous, self-administered electronic survey; 33.1% were nursing professionals (n = 123) and the authors focused on them. In addition to sociodemographic data, information was collected on psychological well-being, mindfulness, coping with death, and quality of life. Construct validity was evaluated through confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was estimated and evidence of external validity was collected. Results: The model showed adequate adjustment: X2(362) = 438.59 (p = 0.01), CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.05 [0.03-0.06] and adequate reliability for all the dimensions except autonomy. The dimensions of well-being were moderately and positively with self-awareness, coping with death, and satisfaction from compassion, and negatively with fatigue from compassion and burnout. The association between dominance of the environment and burnout (-0.54), purpose in life and satisfaction (0.54) and coping with death (0.50) stood out. Conclusions: The results support the use of these scales in nursing, since they demonstrate adequate reliability and validity. In fact, several of them explain up to a quarter of the relevant indicators in occupational health, such as burnout or satisfaction with life.

RESUMO Objetivos: validar as escalas de Bem-estar Psicológico de Ryff em enfermagem e relacioná-las com variáveis fundamentais em qualidade de vida no trabalho. Materiais e método: participaram por enquete eletrônica autoadministrada anônima 433 profissionais - 33,1 % profissionais de enfermagem (n=123), nos quais nos focamos. Além de informação sociodemográfica, coletou-se informação sobre bem-estar psicológico, atenção consciente, enfrentamento da morte e qualidade de vida. A validade de constructo foi avaliada com análise fatorial confirmatória. Estimou confiabilidade e coletaram-se evidências de validade externa. Resultados: o modelo mostrou ajuste adequado: X2(362) = 438,59 (p = 0,01), CFI = 0,98, RMSEA = 0,05 [0,03-0,06] e confiabilidade adequada para todas as dimensões, exceto autonomia. As dimensões do bem-estar foram relacionadas moderada e positivamente com autoconsciência, enfretamento da morte e satisfação por compaixão, e negativamente com fatiga por compaixão e burnout. Destacam-se as relações entre domínio do ambiente e burnout (-0,54), propósito na vida com satisfação (0,54) e com enfrentamento da morte (0,50). Conclusões: os resultados apoiam o uso dessas escalas em enfermagem, pois mostram adequada confiabilidade e validade, e várias delas explicam até um quarto de indicadores relevantes em saúde do trabalho, como burnout ou satisfação vital.

Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout in Spain and Brazil: ProQOL Validation and Cross-cultural Diagnosis.

CONTEXT: Palliative care professionals' quality of life has emerged as a growing issue of interest in health care literature, centered on concerns about professionals' compassion within a context of work characterized by pain and death. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was threefold: 1) to study the psychometric properties of both the Spanish and the Portuguese versions of the ProQOL scale, by means of confirmatory factor analyses; 2) to offer a diagnosis of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue levels of Spanish and Brazilian palliative care professionals; and 3) to compare levels in ProQOL between countries. METHODS: Two surveys with a cross-sectional design were carried out; 161 Brazilian palliative care professionals and 385 Spanish participated in this study. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis for both the Spanish and the Portuguese versions showed an adequate fit. Reliability estimates were also adequate, with problems with the burnout dimension. Spanish and Brazilian palliative care professionals showed high levels of compassion satisfaction (specially, for the Brazilian samples), medium levels of secondary traumatic stress, and low levels of burnout. Finally, statistically significant differences in Spanish and Brazilian levels of compassion satisfaction and secondary traumatic stress were found, but not in burnout. CONCLUSION: The ProQOL shows psychometric goodness in its Spanish and Portuguese versions, although some items should be revised. The ProQOL is also useful for diagnosis and is sensitive enough to distinguish nuances as that found between Brazilian and Spanish professionals.