ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to determine the Turkish validity reliability and newborns’ adaptation to Pediatric Peripheral Intravenous Infiltration Scale.

This study is methodological and was conducted on 54 newborns with the simultaneous evaluation of two observers. Each infant was monitored 8 times with hourly observations from when the vein path was changed, and a total of 864 observational outcomes were assessed with scale. SPSS program was used for statistical evaluations.

A total of 54 newborns were taken into the study and the proportions of cases at each care level in neonatal intensive care unit were similar (level 1: 16 patients, level 2: 23 patients, level 3: 15 patients (p=0.348). The most commonly used fluid was found to be dextrose 10% in 63%, and total parenteral nutritional fluid in 26%. The newborns’ postnatal age was median 3 days (minimum: 1, maximum: 27). A total of 864 observations were made for 8 hours and in the 35% (n=19) of 54 babies, the vein pathway was changed after the first observation. 69% of the infants whose vascular accesses were changed, were identified in the first stage (1 point), 25% in the second stage (2 points), and vascular accesses were renewed. The Krippendorff’s alpha reliability coefficient showing the integration between the two evaluators was 1.00 (p<0.001). This result shows “full agreement” between the two evaluators. Intra-class correlation coefficient showing reliability between measurements was r=0.99 (p<0.001). This coefficient also indicates that the measurements are highly reliable.

Intravenous infiltration and extravasations are preventable complications in neonates and should be assessed with the aid of a scale at regular intervals. Pediatric Peripheral Intravenous Infiltration Scale can be used in newborns and also in Turkish.