Propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Cuidado Profissional em pacientes colombianos hospitalizados e ambulatoriais

Objective: To assess the structural validity and reliability of the Professional Care Scale (CPS) in a large and heterogeneous sample of hospitalized and outpatient individuals from two healthcare institutions in Santander, Colombia.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2024. Eligible participants included hospitalized patients with a length of stay greater than 72 hours and outpatients who had received nursing care. Sociodemographic characteristics and responses to the Spanish version of the CPS were collected. Structural validity was evaluated using principalcomponent factor analysis (PCFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM), applying goodness-of-fit indices. Reliability was examined using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients.Results: A total of 206 participants were included in the analysis. PCFA supported a two-factor structure—Compassionate Healer and Competent Healer—, which accounted for 60.21% of the total variance. While 50% of SEM fit indices were consistent, some indices presented limitations, warranting cautious interpretation. The overallinternal consistency of the CPS was α = 0.9295. For the subscales, Compassionate Healer was α = 0.8729 and Competent Healer yielded α = 0.8810. McDonald's omega for the total scale was 0.9306. Conclusions: The CPS demonstrated evidence of a two-factor structure and high internal consistency in this sample of Colombian patients. These findings support its acceptable validity and reliability for assessing professional nursing care. The scale offers a valuable resource for nursing professionals and researchers to evaluate and monitor patient satisfaction with skilled nursing care, as well as to identify opportunities for improvement in clinical practice.