Development and Psychometric Testing of the Workplace Civility Index: A Reliable Tool for Measuring Civility in the Workplace

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fostering civility in practice and academic health care settings is a desirable goal for individuals, teams, and organizations and is paramount to safe patient care. METHOD: A convenience sample of 393 nursing faculty and practice-based nurses in the United States participated in a study to test the psychometric properties of the Workplace Civility Index (WCI). RESULTS: A factor analysis and other reliability analyses support the use of the WCI as a valid and reliable measurement to measure perceptions of workplace civility acumen. CONCLUSION: The WCI is a 20-item psychometrically sound instrument used to measure perceptions of workplace civility among individuals and groups within work environments. The index may be completed as an individual exercise; however, it is highly recommended that the index be completed with a trusted coworker, colleague, or work group to improve self-awareness, give and receive constructive feedback, and form the basis for continuing strengths and addressing areas for improvement. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2018;49(9):400-406.