Development and validation of the neonatal safety assessment scale in disasters (NSASD)

BACKGROUND: Newborns are highly vulnerable to multidimensional safety risks during disasters. However, no standardized, disaster-specific assessment tool currently exists to evaluate neonatal safety in emergency settings systematically. This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable instrument to assess neonatal safety in disaster settings. METHODS: The study included 302 neonatal nurses who provided care to newborns affected by the February 6, 2023, Türkiye earthquakes. Content validity was assessed with the Polit-Beck Content Validity Index (CVI). Reliability was evaluated using the Kuder-Richardson 20 (KR-20) coefficient. Items with negative item-total correlations or correlations below 0.20 were considered for removal. The research utilized an Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Design; quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed sequentially. RESULTS: The Polit-Beck CVI was 1.00, and the KR-20 coefficient was 0.81, demonstrating strong internal consistency reliability. Ten items were removed due to low item-total correlations, resulting in the final version of the scale. The "Neonatal Safety Assessment Scale in Disasters" demonstrated strong validity and reliability, making it suitable for evaluating neonatal safety in disaster contexts. CONCLUSIONS: The developed instrument is a robust and reliable tool for assessing neonatal safety during disasters, supporting clinical decision-making and preparedness in neonatal care.