Subjective and objective parameters in paediatric respiratory conditions: cultural adaptation to Portuguese population

Ana Manuela Ferreira Da Silva Alexandrino,Maria Cristina Damas Argel De Melo,Rita Isabel Garrido Vieira Santos,José Adelino Mesquita Bastos,Guy Postiaux

doi:10.1590/1980-5918.030.001.ao05

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Young children are at high risk of respiratory infections. The severity of the disease is based on the assessment of signs and symptoms, although there is a lack of validated scales to the Portuguese population. Objective: The aim of this study was to accomplish the cultural adaptation and validation of the subjective and objective parameters in paediatric respiratory conditions, according to Postiaux. Methods: We ensured the cultural adaptation of the “Paramètres anamnestiques et cliniques utiles au suivi et à l’achèvement de la toilette bronchopulmonaire du nourrisson et de l’enfant”, created by Guy Postiaux. Then we analysed content, conceptual and construct validity, as well as test-retest reliability. The Portuguese version was applied in a sample of 59 children, with a mean age of 23.05 ± 8.34 months, 55.9% male. Results: We stablished semantics and construct validity and adopted the title “Paediatric Respiratory Severity Score” (PRSS). PRSS obtained a good internal consistency (α de Cronbach = 0.80) and an excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.91). Subjective parameters revealed a Cronbach’ α = 0.80 and an ICC = 0.90. Objective parameters obtained a Cronbach’ α = 0.73 and an ICC = 0.85. The application of PRSS to the sample showed that 37.3% of the children had a normal health condition (PRSS = 8) and 62.7% of the children had a moderate impairment of their health condition (9 ≤ PRSS ≤ 16). Conclusion: Paediatric Respiratory Severity Score is a valid and reliable measure to assess the severity of acute respiratory infections in children under 36 months of age.

Highlights

Young children are at high risk of respiratory infections
Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are classi ied as Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI) and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI), depending on which part of the respiratory tract is most severely affected
The severity of LRTI depends on the clinician's interpretation of a constellation of clinical indings, for instance, increased dif icult breathing and respiratory rate, paradoxical breathing, chest in drawing, nasal laring or cyanosis (6 - 8)

Summary

Introduction

Young children are at high risk of respiratory infections. The severity of the disease is based on the assessment of signs and symptoms, there is a lack of validated scales to the Portuguese population. Objective: The aim of this study was to accomplish the cultural adaptation and validation of the subjective and objective parameters in paediatric respiratory conditions, according to Postiaux. Results: We stablished semantics and construct validity and adopted the title “Paediatric Respiratory Severity Score” (PRSS). Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are the most frequent illness in children under 2 years of age (1 - 4). ARI are classi ied as Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI) and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI), depending on which part of the respiratory tract is most severely affected. URTI are very common in children, including initial signs and symptoms, such as, cough, rhinorrhoea, nasal obstruction and fever, about one third of these children develop LRTI, which generally have a more severe impact on childrens health. The severity of LRTI depends on the clinician's interpretation of a constellation of clinical indings, for instance, increased dif icult breathing and respiratory rate, paradoxical breathing, chest in drawing, nasal laring or cyanosis (6 - 8)

Methods

Results

Conclusion