Construction and Validation of the Escala de Comportamentos de Abordagem aos Média por Enfermeiros (Scale of Media Use Behaviours by Nurses)

Abstract

As mensagens mediáticas sobre a saúde em Portugal tendem a desvalorizar o contributo dos enfermeiros e podem originar representações redutoras do setor. Compreender como os enfermeiros abordam os média torna-se fundamental para caracterizar esta problemática. Objetivos: Construir e validar a Escala de Comportamentos de Abordagem aos Média por Enfermeiros. Metodologia: Realizou-se um estudo metodológico numa amostra de enfermeiros pertencentes à mesma rede social (n=528). O processo de validação incluiu a análise fatorial, a análise da consistência interna e da estabilidade temporal. Resultados: Obteve-se uma escala de 23 itens, distribuídos por 5 fatores, que explicam 70,98% da variância. O instrumento apresenta boa consistência interna e valores aceitáveis de estabilidade temporal. Conclusão: O instrumento revelou-se válido e fiável. O desenvolvimento de programas educativos sobre abordagem mediática poderá ajudar os enfermeiros a evidenciar publicamente o valor e contributos da profissão.

Associativism in nursing, public communication, and interaction with the media

“…The paradox experienced by the participants coincides with a study that identified a low frequency of interaction between nurses and the media (average of 6.24 points on a scale of 92 points) (20) . Some PNA leaders are suspicious of the media and their methods and recognize that they could play a more active role in this interaction.…”

“…In addition to media attention, it is intended to increase the importance of the association in the eyes of journalists and the public (standing) and obtain a favorable framing (preferred framing) of messages to be communicated (12) . Research produced in recent years have revealed: the scarce media coverage of the profession, with nurses being news sources in 1.5% to 6.6% of the total published health related news (7,(16)(17)(18) ; the media discourse tending to be negative, focusing on work problems, the shortage of nurses, and scandals in the profession (5,11,16,19) ; the reduced frequency of nurses' interaction with mass media (20) ; the existence of limited resources (reduced number of members and funding), the lack of formal communication structures, such as communication offices or spokespersons trained to interact with the media; and the spread of a discourse centered on professionals and little directed at citizens (21) .…”

Reaching out: Organizational structures and public communication of nursing professional associations and trade unions in Portugal

“…Nurses tend to communicate the profession's views by exposing their problems (such as nursing shortage and safe staffing), which prevents the public from understanding what they know and do as nurses . Graveto et al explored the frequency of nurses' interaction with the media by building and validating the Scale of Media Use Behaviors by Nurses in a sample of 528 Portuguese nurses. This 23‐item Likert‐type scale describes ways of interacting with the media (such as writing press releases or inviting the media for professional nursing events).…”