A Systematic Review of Measurement Properties of Spirituality related Assessment Tools Published in Korean Journals

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the measurement properties of spirituality-related assessment tools published in Korean journals. Methods: The databases used to search the literature reporting use of the spirituality-related assessment tools were RISS, NDSL, DBpia, KoreaMed, and KISS. The quality of the measurement properties was evaluated based on the reported internal consistency, content validity, criterion validity, construct validity, reproducibility, responsiveness, floor-ceiling effects and interpretability based on the tools review criteria suggested by Terwee et al. Results: Twenty-five assessment tools (including 7 original Korean versions) were identified from the 208 Korean studies published up to November, 2016. All of the 25 tools reported internal consistency and content validity; construct validity was reported in 21 tools while only six tools had reported on criterion validity. None of the studies reported on the reproducibility, responsiveness, and floor-ceiling effects. Among 25 spirituality-related assessment tools, the spiritual well-being scale was identified as the most commonly used tool for spirituality assessment. Conclusion: Among 25 spirituality-related assessment tools used in Korean studies, all of them satisfied only three criteria out of the eight criteria for measurement properties, internal consistency, content validity, and interpretability. The results of this study provide evidence to develop reliable and valid tools that will satisfy the criteria for measurement properties. In addition, standardized, reliable, and valid assessment tools must be chosen for spirituality-related study.