Development of Thai Moral Integrity Scale in Professional Nurses

Authors

  • Jinda Nunthawong RN, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Nursing, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.
  • Jintana Yunibhand RN, PhD, Dip.APPMHN, Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.
  • Waraporn Chaiyawat RN, PhD, DNS , Dip. APPN, Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.

Keywords:

Scale development, Moral integrity, Thai professional nurses

Abstract

                  Moral integrity is fundamental to morality that represents the ability of nurses to face a moral/ethical situation and provide direction for nursing practice. Moral integrity assessment is necessary for nurses. In Thailand the Code of Professional Conduct and Registered Nurses Competence in Ethics is a guideline for moral integrity and ethical standard. The aim of this study was to develop the Thai Moral Integrity Scale and to test its psychometric properties. The construct definition and content domains of this instrument were developed through intensive literature reviews and testing of its content validity by five experts.

                 The Moral Integrity Scale consists of 27 items with a Likert-type scale. The result of testing with 502 professional nurses by using exploratory factor analysis indicated that there were four dimensions that can explain the moral integrity in professional nurses that consists of: (1) express intention to follow the Thai Code, (2) adhere to and follow the Thai Code, (3) continue to follow the Thai Code, and (4) show courage to act according to the Thai Code’s tenets. All these dimensions can explain 55.98% of the total variance. The construct validity was tested by using confirmatory factor analysis when tested with professional nurses. The results indicated that the measurement model had good fit with the data. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient reliability of the total scale was .92.

                  The results indicated acceptable validity and reliability of the final version of the Thai Moral Integrity Scale that provides an alternative way to assess moral integrity in Thai professional nurses, especially for new graduates to assess their moral integrity in nursing practice representing highest levels of quality of care.

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Published

2020-01-02

How to Cite

1.
Nunthawong J, Yunibhand J, Chaiyawat W. Development of Thai Moral Integrity Scale in Professional Nurses. PRIJNR [Internet]. 2020 Jan. 2 [cited 2024 Apr. 18];24(1):102-17. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PRIJNR/article/view/178635

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 1 (2020): January-March 2020

Section

Original paper

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Copyright: The Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, Thailand Nursing & Midwifery Council has exclusive rights to publish, reproduce and distribute the manuscript and all contents therein.