The Reliability, Validity and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Turkish Version of Jefferson Scale of Empathy for Health Professions Students

Abstract

Objective: The study is aimed to study for the reliability, validity, and cross-cultural adaptation of the Turkish version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for undergraduate health profession students (JSE-HPS).

Methods: Cultural adaptation of JSE-HPS was carried out in 5 stages according to the protocol of Beaton et al.JSE-HPS was administered to students who educated in the departments of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nursing and Health Management. The reliability of JSE-HPS was evaluated by internal consistency and test-retest analysis using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Criterion validity assessed by comparing the scores of JSE-HPS and Emphatic Tendency Scale (ETS). An analysis of construct validity was carried out by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.

Results: The exploratory factor analysis revealed the presence of three factors that explain 44.68% of the total variance and that correspond to the dimensions of the original scale. Following factor structures were obtained as “Perspective taking”, “Compassionate care” and “Standing in patient's shoes”. Turkish version of JSE-HPS total score were significantly correlated with the ETS total score (r=0.187, p=.005). The Cronbach’s Alpha internal consistency coefficient was found α = .793. The test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.86. The confirmatory factor analysis verified a good fit of the model (χ2/df = 1.776).

Conclusion: The Turkish version of JSE-HPS is a valid and reliable scale for evaluating empathy levels of undergraduate health professions students.