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An instrument for observational assessment of nausea in young children
Vicki E Clarkson Keller1, Juanita F Keck
1Ball State University School of Nursing, Muncie, IN, USA.
Insights
The Keller Index of Nausea (KIN) effectively assesses nausea in young children. This observational tool showed significant correlations with medical diagnoses, parent complaints, and parental reports of nausea.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Clinical Assessment Tools
- Child Health Outcomes
Background:
- Nausea assessment in young children (1-5 years) presents unique challenges.
- Existing observational tools for nausea in this age group may be limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Keller Index of Nausea (KIN).
- To establish KIN as a viable observational instrument for pediatric nausea assessment.
Main Methods:
- The Keller Index of Nausea (KIN) was utilized alongside the University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital Pain Scale.
- Children aged 1-5 years presenting to a general pediatric outpatient clinic were assessed.
- Data collection involved medical diagnoses, parental chief complaints, and parental reports of nausea.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant positive correlations were found between KIN scores and key indicators of nausea.
- These indicators included medical diagnoses consistent with nausea, parental chief complaints of nausea, and parental statements of the child experiencing nausea.
Conclusions:
- The Keller Index of Nausea (KIN) demonstrates strong validity for observational nausea assessment in young children.
- KIN shows promise as a reliable tool for pediatric healthcare providers in identifying and quantifying nausea.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Keller Index of Nausea (KIN), a new instrument for observational assessment of nausea in children 1 through 5 years of age. The KIN and the University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital Pain Scale were used to assess children brought to a general pediatric outpatient clinic for a variety of health problems. There were statistically significant positive point biserial correlations between the KIN scores and three criteria: (a) a medical diagnosis consistent with the presence of nausea, (b) a chief complaint per parent consistent with the presence of nausea, and (c) the parent's statement that the child is experiencing nausea.
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