Quality of life in high-risk pregnancies: A scale development study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The care process is crucial in improving quality of life and providing comfort during a high-risk pregnancy. This study aims to develop a “Quality of Life Scale in High-Risk Pregnancies” in order to identify the areas most affecting the quality of life of these women and to guide steps for improving their quality of life. Methods: This methodological study, a scale development study, was conducted in 3 stages. First, a draft scale was created with a 5-point Likert-type item pool consisting of 22 items, prepared in line with the literature. The items were then sent to 11 experts in the field for evaluation of their semantics and content. Following their feedback, 1 item was removed, and the scale items were finalized. After conducting factor and reliability analyses, with data from 210 pregnant women diagnosed with high-risk pregnancies, the scale was refined to 16 items. Data were collected face-to-face through a questionnaire developed by the researchers. Results: A total of 210 women with high-risk pregnancies, with a mean age of 29.41 ± 5.18 years, participated in the study. One item was excluded from the analysis based on expert opinion, and 5 items were removed during factor analysis because they overlapped, fell outside the theoretical dimensions, and had factor loadings below 0.30. The developed scale was determined to consist of 16 items and 3 sub-dimensions. The Cronbach’s alpha internal reliability coefficient for the scale was 0.860, and the reliability coefficients for the sub-dimensions ranged from 0.817 to 0.844, indicating relatively high reliability. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the Quality of Life Scale in High-Risk Pregnancies is a valid and reliable measurement tool. This scale, which can assist healthcare professionals in assessing the quality of life in high-risk pregnancies, can also be adapted to different cultures.