Clinical validation of the infant-driven feeding scales© in Turkey

Abstract

BackgroundSupporting the development of feeding skills among preterm infants is an important component of neonatal care. The selection of appropriate and supportive feeding interventions begins with a comprehensive assessment of the infant's skills. PurposeThis study aimed to adapt the Infant-Driven Feeding Scales© (IDFS) to the Turkish language. MethodsThis was a methodological, observational, single-center cross-sectional study. The study included 80 infants born at a gestational age ≥ 32 weeks, consecutively admitted to a tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Research data were collected using a premature infant descriptive information form (IDIF), IDFS, and LATCH Score for Breastfeeding Assessment. For the Turkish validity-reliability of the IDF, the translate-back translate method was used with the content validity index (CVI) assessed. ResultsThe scale had CVI values between 0.90 and 1.00 with a mean CVI = 0.96. For measures 1 and 2, there were significant positive and high-level correlations between IFDS-R and IFDS-Q correlation values (r = 0.553–0.958; p = 0.001) and significant negative, low-level correlations between IFDS-R and IFDS-Q with the LATCH scale (r = 0.439–0.532; p = 0.001). According to inter-observer compatibility analyses, the kappa value was 0.94–1.00 for the first measure and 0.96–1.00 for the second measure (p = 0.001). There were negative significant correlations between IDFS-R points with gestational age and postmenstrual age (PMA) (p = 0.001), and gestational age and PMA were explanatory factors for 13.8% of IDFS-R points (F = 7.30, p = 0.001). ConclusionsThe IDFS is recommended for use as a valid and reliable tool to ease the safe and successful development of oral feeding skills in preterm infants and to plan evidence-based interventions. Implications for practiceThe IDFS appears to be a beneficial measurement device for use in assessing the state of readiness of preterm infants for oral feeding and for early determination of risks that may occur due to delayed feeding independence of infants.