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.

Pediatric Nursing
|November 15, 2006
PubMed

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.

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