The Development and Testing of the Psychometric Properties of the Emotional Response and Disclosure of Errors in Clinical Practice Instrument

Background and Purpose: A tool to measure the nurses’ emotional response after an error in clinical practice and the potential impact emotion can have on disclosure is lacking. This study tested the psychometric properties of the Emotional Response and Disclosure of Errors in Clinical Practice instrument. Methods: The instrument was tested among 497 nurses with psychometric evaluation for validity, reliability, and exploratory factor analysis. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 3-factor solution which accounted for 55.4% of the total variance. Internal consistency results were Cronbach’s alpha = .935 for the overall scale and each domain: concern = .907, anxiety = .888, and disbelief = .775. Conclusions: Use of this valid and reliable instrument in practice and education can assist with patient safety efforts. Further testing of the instrument is recommended among other health care professionals.