Transcultural adaptation and characteristics of the Spanish version of the COMFORT Behavior Scale in pediatric critical care patients

Abstract

ObjectivesTo determine the measurement properties of the Spanish version of the COMFORT Behavior Scale developed by van Dijk et al (2000) in paediatric critical care patients. DesignProspective observational and psychometric study. SettingLevel III Intensive Care Area at a university’s children hospital. PatientsA total of 311 children with median age of 5.07 years (IQR = 0.9-11.7). InterventionsNone. Principal variables and resultsTo determine the measurement properties the Spanish version of the COMFORT Behavior Scale was simultaneous administered by two nurses to 311 patients admitted to an eighteen-bed critical care unit of a third level paediatric hospital. The Spanish version of the COMFORT Behavior Scale obtained a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.715 and it is a tool made up of three factors with two items in each domain: i) alertness and physical movement; ii) calmness/agitation and respiratory response/crying, and iii) muscle tone and facial tension. ConclusionsThe COMFORT B was adapted to Spanish and it has shown to be a valid an reliable tool to assess comfort in a group of children admitted to an Spanish Intensive Care Unit.