Cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Korean version of the Intensive care unit Dignified Care Questionnaire (IDCQ)

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses should prioritize patient dignity, but modern ICUs often prioritize efficiency, increasing patients’ psychological distress. A validated tool is needed to measure dignified care in ICUs. Thus, this study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically evaluate a Korean version of the Intensive Care Unit Dignified Care Questionnaire (IDCQ) for use among nurses caring for adult ICU patients. Data were collected from 297 ICU nurses at general hospitals or higher-level facilities through an online survey from June to August 2024. The content validity index was evaluated by 10 experts. Exploratory (n = 97) and confirmatory (n = 200) factor analyses were performed, along with assessments of convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity, as well as internal consistency reliability. The scale-level content validity index/averaging was 0.97. An exploratory factor analysis revealed two sub-factors—relative dignity and absolute dignity—that explained 43.03% of the variance across 17 items, with factor loadings ranging from 0.38 to 0.78. Acceptable model fit was verified by confirmatory factor analysis and convergent and discriminant validity. The Korean version of the IDCQ exhibited a significant correlation with the person-centered critical nursing tool for ICU nurses, and its reliability was supported by a Cronbach’s α of 0.86. This study confirmed the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the IDCQ for assessing dignity in nursing care, making it suitable for Korean ICU nurses. The IDCQ can be utilized for identifying factors associated with dignified care among ICU nurses. More sufficient evidence that the IDCQ is a valid tool for screening dignified care in ICUs can contribute to promoting patient dignity and creating a culture of respect in ICU environments.