Investigation of Factor structure, Reliability and Validity of compassion competence among nurses in Mashhad

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the factor structure, reliability and validity of the compassion competence scale. Methods: In a descriptive study with exploratory factor analysis, 330 nurses in government hospitals in Mashhad were selected by cluster sampling method and completed compassion competence scale (2010) and Professional Quality of Life Scale (2010). Data were analyzed by SPSS-22 software. Reliability coefficient of scale was calculated through Cronbach's alpha coefficient and retest method and validity of scale was calculated through construct validity (exploratory factor analysis method, criterion validity and internal consistency). To investigate the relationship between scores of compassion competence and professional quality of life, Pearson's correlation coefficient was used Results: Results of exploratory factor analysis extracted three-factor structure that explained 53.60% of the total variance. The first factor with factor load of 5.33, second factor with factor load of 2.59 and third factor with factor load of 1.32 were named communication, sensitivity and insight, respectively. Retest reliability coefficients for the three factors were obtained 74.0, 69.0 and 80.0 and Cronbach's alpha coefficients were obtained 81.0, 76.0 and 90.0 respectively. In investigation of internal consistency, correlation between total score of compassion competence and aforementioned subscales were obtained 76.0, 77.0 and 81.0, respectively (P<0.01). In addition, the correlation between score of compassion competence with burnout and secondary traumatic stress components was negative and significant and with compassion satisfaction was positive and significant (P<0.01). Discussion and conclusion: The findings of this study confirmed the three-factor structure obtained by Li and Semnon (2016) and provided practical advices to nurses and responsible organizations, for using this scale.