Translation and validation of the Chinese version of the comprehensive breastfeeding knowledge scale (CBKS).

Background: The level of breastfeeding knowledge of nursing students may influence their ability to support breastfeeding families. However, to date, it has not been possible to measure this accurately due to the lack of existence of a validated tool in Chinese.

Objectives: To translate the Comprehensive Breastfeeding Knowledge Scale (CBKS) into Chinese, and then evaluate its psychometric properties among Chinese undergraduate nursing students in order to inform and evaluate a nursing breastfeeding education programme.

Methods: The Brislin translation model was followed, and a three-phase process (translation, back-translation and cultural adaptation) was used to sinicize the CBKS and evaluate its content validity. Construct validity was evaluated with exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and the reliability of internal consistency of the Chinese version of the CBKS was tested by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the half reliability coefficient.

Settings: Two nursing schools in Beijing and Nanjing, China.

Participants: Four hundred and thirty-nine undergraduate nursing students (257 from Beijing and 182 from Nanjing).

Results: Five experts rated the content validity of the Chinese version of the CBKS as excellent. EFA showed that the Chinese version of the CBKS had three subscales and 23 items. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the Chinese version of the CBKS and the half reliability coefficient were 0.70 and 0.73, respectively. Students who had completed an obstetrics or paediatric nursing course had significantly higher total scores and mean scores for most items compared with those who had not taken a course. Most of the indictors of EFA met the standards of construct validity, and some were very close to the cut-off.

Conclusion: Overall, the 23-item Chinese version of the CBKS is an acceptable tool to measure the level of breastfeeding knowledge among undergraduate nursing students. This scale can be used to inform the design and evaluation of breastfeeding education materials for nursing students or other health profession students.