Measurements
The Caring Behaviors Assessment (CBA) of Cronin and
Harrison (1988) was adapted to assess nursing behaviors in
relation to patient-reported caring experiences. The following
seven CBA subscales were used: humanism/faith-hope/
sensitivity, helping/trust, expression of positive/negative
feelings, teaching/learning, supportive protective corrective
environment, human needs assistance, and existential/
phenomenological/spiritual forces.
The CBA is a 63-item self-reported questionnaire. Patients
used a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (little
importance) to 5 (much importance) to indicate the importance
of each survey item.
The questionnaire was based on Jean Watson's carative
factors. Reliability was evaluated by examining the internal
consistency of nursing behaviors against Cronbach's
alpha. The alpha coefficient for the seven subscales demonstrated
acceptable reliability (with a Cronbach's alpha
ranging from .66 to .90). Face and content validity of the
CBA was established in accordance with the suggestions of
Cronin and Harrison (1988).