Abstract:
Background: Assertiveness is recognized as a crucial skill in the nursing profession since it is
capable of reinforcing interprofessional relationships, preventing workplace violence, reducing
work stress, improving professional efficacy, leadership skills, autonomy and job satisfaction.
When assertiveness is inculcated among nursing students, it will pave the way for a sustainable
career. Hence, utilizing a proper mechanism to assess the assertiveness among Sri Lankan
nursing students is a valuable investment.
Objectives: To adapt the Begley and Glackens's Assertiveness Scale cross culturally into
Sinhala language in order to use among nursing students in Sri Lanka.
Methods: Permission to translate, cross-culturally adapt and use the 28-item assertiveness scale
was obtained from the developers. The content and consensual validity of translated version
were assessed with a two rounded Delphi using five experts and a consensus evaluation. Based
on the Delphi Process, items for the Sinhalese assertiveness scale were selected based on the
criteria: (i) if 70% or more of the re-ratings were in category 0–3, that item was omitted or
re-worded to make it acceptable. If re-worded, the Delphi process was repeated for that item,
and (ii) if 70% or more of the re-ratings were in categories 4–6 and 7–9, that item was
preserved.
Results: Sinhalese version of assertiveness scale showed maximum content validity of all the
individual items (I-CVI=1.0) and maximum overall content validity (S-CVI/UA = 1.0;
S-CVI/Ave = 1.0). All the items were in category 7-9 and retained. According to suggestions
made by some experts, only re-wording of some items was done in order to retain the
conceptual meaning when translated to Sinhala.
Conclusions: The Sinhala version of Begley and Glackens's Assertiveness Scale has shown
good content and consensual validity where it can be utilized as a validated tool to measure the
assertiveness among nursing students in the Sri Lankan context.
