Construção e validação de um instrumento de classificação de risco para flebite em pacientes adultos em uso de cateter venoso periférico: Escala DILEONE

Abstract

Complications in intravenous therapy can be avoided by preventing related risks. The main negative outcome in vascular access is phlebitis. To minimize errors due to subjective judgments and turn an assessment tool into a quality tool, it is important to consider the tool's reliability and validity, necessary conditions to its credibility and distribution. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a risk classification scale for phlebitis. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: The methodological development was based on the model of psychometrics composed by three stages of proceedings: theoretical proceedings, defining the structure to measure and formulate the tool items; empirical proceedings, for developing orientations for users and respondents, as well as testing the (experimental) reliability and validity of the tool; and finally analytical proceedings (statistics), analyzing the results that were obtained. The content was validated by quantifying the degree of agreement of the judges, using the kappa index and the Cronbach analysis to assess the internal consistency of the tool. RESULTS: of the 33 items of the initial scale, 18 items were left after the judges' assessment. On the second round, 15 items resulted. After the validation test, 13 items remained. CONCLUSION: There were some limitations so that the results were better; the tool was applied in a single hospital; the sample was small and convenient; time and financial resources were sufficient; the phlebitis rate found in a population according to the international recommendation is 5%, and the hospital's phlebitis rate is 4.03% Although the scale does not present enough psychometric qualities for its current application, this does not invalidate the stages already developed, and other studies are necessary for its validation in other places, where phlebitis incidence is over 5%.