Haemodialysis distress thermometer scale: Turkish validity and reliability study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to translate and adapt the "Haemodialysis Distress Thermometer Scale" (HDDT) into Turkish and assess its validity and reliability.

METHODS

This study collected data from 223 haemodialysis patients across three public hospitals in Kütahya province, Türkiye, over a seven-week period.

RESULTS

In this study, the content validity index of the scale was determined to be 0.96. Validity analysis results indicated that factor loadings ranged between 0.45 and 0.82, the total variance explained was 59.25%, and the fit indices were X2/df = 1.149 and RMSEA = 0.026. Reliability analysis showed that the total Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.80, with item-total correlation coefficients ranging from 0.37 to 0.73. The cut-off score for the HDDT barometer was identified as 6.5. The final structure of the HDDT scale comprised 40 items, four factors, and an 11-point barometer, consistent with the original scale.

CONCLUSION

The Turkish version of the HDDT is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing distress in patients undergoing haemodialysis treatment. It may serve as a valuable tool for nurses in identifying and addressing patient distress during haemodialysis care.