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

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the measurement properties of the Spanish version of the COMFORT Behavior Scale developed by van Dijk et al. (2000) in pediatric critical care patients.

Design: Prospective observational and psychometric study.

Setting: Level III Intensive Care Area at a university's children hospital.

Patients: A total of 311 children with median age of 5.07 years (IQR = 0.9-11.7).

Interventions: None.

Principal variables and results: To determine the measurement properties the Spanish version of the COMFORT Behavior Scale was simultaneous administered by 2nurses to 311 patients admitted to an eighteen-bed critical care unit of a third level pediatric 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 3factors with 2items: 1) alertness and physical movement; 2) calmness/agitation and respiratory response/crying, and 3) muscle tone and facial tension.

Conclusions: The 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.

Keywords: Bienestar infantil; CONFORT; Infant welfare; Measurement properties; Patient COMFORT; Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; Propiedades psicométricas; Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos.