Development of the sleep quality scale for coronary care patients (SQ-CC)

In this study, it was aimed to develop a valid and reliable measurement instrument to measure sleep quality in coronary care patients. This is a methodological study that was carried out with 201 patients at the coronary care unit of a university hospital. The validity and reliability of the scale were tested using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Cronbach’s alpha analysis, and Pearson’s correlation analysis. The scale's Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found to be 0.816. There were significant positive relationships between the overall scale and its dimensions. The Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a significant negative relationship between the Sleep Quality Scale for Coronary Care Patients and the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire. The Sleep Quality Scale for Coronary Care Patients was determined to be a valid and reliable measurement instrument for assessing the sleep quality of patients who are receiving care in coronary care units. The scale that was developed in this study can be applied to coronary care patients because it is easy to implement and specific to intensive care settings. This way, the sleep quality levels of patients can be assessed quickly, and nursing interventions for potential problems can be defined. Hence, the emergence of sleep-related health problems can be prevented. Although RCSQ is the most commonly used scale to evaluate the sleep quality of patients treated in the intensive care unit, SQ-CC is thought to be more inclusive in considering noise-, environment-, and patient-related subjective factors. The evaluation of environmental factors can also provide objective data for improvements to be made to eliminate these factors in clinics. Furthermore, the use of this scale in national and international scientific studies where the sleep quality of coronary care patients is evaluated will contribute to not only our colleagues but also the relevant scientific field.