A review of instruments measuring nurse-physician collaboration.

OBJECTIVE: To review instruments used to measure nurse-physician collaboration and compare the strengths and potential opportunities of each instrument.
BACKGROUND: Nurse-physician collaboration has been studied using a variety of instruments. The ability to generalize the outcomes of studies and build on the findings is predicated on acceptable validity and reliability metrics of these instruments.
METHODS: A literature search using PubMed and Health and Psychological Instruments databases was conducted for articles published between 1990 and May 2004 to identify instruments measuring staff nurse-physician collaboration. After the instruments were identified, a second search was conducted to identify at least one peer-reviewed article describing the psychometrics of the instrument. Articles identified were then entered into the ISI Web of Science Citation Index to identify the instruments that had been used in at least 2 other studies. These selected instruments were then reviewed for the following information: background for the development of the tool, description of the tool, initial psychometric testing, and strengths and potential applications for each instrument.
RESULTS: Five instruments met study criteria: the Collaborative Practice Scale, Collaboration and Satisfaction About Care Decisions, ICU Nurse-Physician Questionnaire, Nurses Opinion Questionnaire, and the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Physician Nurse Collaboration.
CONCLUSIONS: The identified instruments have undergone initial reliability and validity testing and are recommended for future research on nurse-physician collaboration.