Self-competence in death work. Spanish version of the Self-Competence in Death Work Scale

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to translate into Spanish the Self Competence in Death Work Scale (SC-DWS) and to explore its psychometric properties of validity and reliability.

Method: Participants were 106 nursing professionals, who worked in units related to care at the end of life. Participants answered a questionnaire containing the Spanish forms of the Self-Competence in Death Work Scale (SC-DWS), Perceived Life Significance Scale (PLSS), Death Anxiety Inventory-Revised (DAI-R), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and General Self Efficacy Scale (GSE).

Results: A Cronbach's alpha coefficient of .71 was obtained. The factorial analysis yielded five significant factors that accounted for 59.9% of the variance. The scores of the SC-DWS presented a positive and significant coefficient of correlation with Self-efficacy (GSE) and Meaning of life (PLSS) and negative with General anxiety and Depression (HADS) and Death anxiety (DAI-R).

Discussion: The Spanish form of the SC-DWS has acceptable psychometric properties. This instrument could be used for evaluating competences of the professionals that work in environments related to the end of life. Likewise, it could be used to assess the efficiency of interventions directed to the acquisition of skills and coping strategies for suffering and death.

Keywords: Actitud ante la muerte; Attitude to death; Competence; Competencia; Enfermería; Fiabilidad; Nursing; Psicometría; Psychometric; Reliability; Validez; Validity.