RESUMO
Objetivo: determinar las propiedade psicométricas de dos escalas utilizadas para evaluar las actitudes en torno a los cuidados paliativos: La Escala de Confort en Cuidados Paliativos (ECCP) de Pereira et al., y la Escala de Tanatofobia (ET) de Merrill et al. Método: Participaron 77 alumnos de 7 cursos virtuales de aspectos psicosociales en cuidados paliativos entre 2010 y 2013. Estos respondieron las escalas de medida antes y después del curso. Se examinó la validez y la fiabilidad de la ECCP y de la ET a través de un análisis de componentes principales, el coeficiente de consistencia interna y el test-retest. Se realizó una comparación de los resultados pre-curso y post-curso para determinar cambios en las actitudes evaluadas. Resultados: El análisis de componentes principales se ajustó satisfactoriamente a los datos y se extrajeron 3 componentes: dos para la ECCP y uno para la ET, explicando el 55,37% de la varianza. El Alfa de Cronbach fue satisfactorio en todos los casos. Las correlaciones test-retest en t1 y t2 no resultaron significativas, esto indica que la relación entre la primera y la segunda medición en las escalas no fue estrecha. Los cursos ocasionaron un cambio significativo en el confort en la atención al paciente (p = 0,004), en el confort en la atención a las familias (p = 0,001), mas no en el grado de tanatofobia (p > 0,05). Conclusiones: Ambas escalas son válidas y confiables. Evalúan de forma satisfactoria las actitudes, y sus cambios relacionados con la práctica de los cuidados paliativos, en lo referente a la atención de aspectos psicosociales
Objective: To determine the psychometric properties of two scales designed to examine attitudes regarding palliative care: Comfort Scale in Palliative Care (CSPC, Pereira et al.) and Tanatophobia Scale (TS, Merrill et al.) Method: Seventy-seven students who completed an online course on psychosocial aspects of palliative care offered by the Latin American Association of Palliative Care participated in the study. They also completed the scales before and after the course. Construct validity and reliability of the CSPC and the TS were assessed using a Principal Components Analysis, internal reliability coefficient and test-retest reliability. Further, comparative statistics between the pre-course and post-course results were obtained in order to determine changes in attitudes. Results: The Principal Components Analysis showed satisfactory fit to the data. 3 components were extracted: two for the CSPC and one for the TS, which explained 55.37% of the variance. Internal consistency coefficients were satisfactory in all cases and Cronbach´s Alphas were satisfactory for all the scales, particularly for the CSPC. Testretest reliability in t1 and t2 was found to be non significant, indicating that measures were not related in time. Regarding pre-course/ post-course comparisons, significant changes in comfort assisting patients (p = 0.004) and comfort assisting families (p = 0.001) following the course were identified, but changes in thanatophobia were non significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: both scales are valid and reliable. Attitudes regarding the practice of palliative care and how they change, particularly regarding psychosocial issues, can be accurately measured using the examined scales
