Validity and Reliability Evidence of the Munro Scale for Perioperative Patients, Part I: Correlation, Multiple Regression, and Reliability.

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Patients undergoing surgery are at risk of pressure injury development and should be assessed to ensure measures are taken for prevention. The study's purpose was to examine the causal relationships and reliability of the Munro Pressure Injury Risk Assessment Scale for Perioperative Patients (Munro Scale). The Munro Scale is the first dynamic risk scale available for this patient population in the acute clinical setting. Methods: This study was a retrospective review to explore the relationships of the variables in the Munro Scale, identify the strongest predictors, and measure the reliability of previously collected data from two northeastern community hospitals. A total of 630 risk assessments were analyzed to obtain regression, correlation, and reliability evidence for the Munro Scale. Results: The correlation analysis among the 15 risk variables and combined comorbidities revealed commonalities among the variables and significant relationships to the final postoperative injury score. The model as a whole is significant to predict the final level of risk. Coefficient alpha revealed a lower than anticipated reliability when compared to the Chinese, Turkish, and Brazilian versions of the Munro Scale. Conclusions: There are significant relationships among the variables, and the scale is acceptable for use in the acute perioperative practice setting. This study has both clinical and statistical significance.