Content validation study of nursing interventions intended to prevent cardiovascular events in diabetic patients

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To validate nursing interventions from the Nursing Interventions Classification for preventing cardiovascular events in outpatients with diabetes. Background: Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death among diabetic patients. Although nurses play an important role in preventing cardiovascular events in this population, their specific contribution is difficult to measure. Documenting nursing interventions using a standardised nursing system may provide nursing visibility. However, there are no studies that analysed which nursing interventions would be the most relevant, based on expert opinion, aimed at preventing cardiovascular events in diabetic patients. Design: This is a content validation study, which was designed as a descriptive one. Methods: For this content validation study, we used the Fehring model. Nursing interventions were selected from the Nursing Intervention Classification. Experts were asked to analyse the degree of relevance of 225 nursing interventions regarding the prevention of cardiovascular events in diabetic patients, considering its title and definition. We considered nursing interventions which obtained weighted arithmetic averages >0·80 to be valid. Results: Among 50 invited experts, 14 (71·4% female; 36·5 + 9·7 years) responded and agreed to participate in this study. They analysed 225 preselected nursing interventions, and validated 29. Conclusion: The validated nursing interventions included documentation as well as biological, social and spiritual issues. Relevance to clinical practice: The validated nursing interventions encompass a wide range of nursing knowledge, and these results provide empirical evidence for further studies.