Validation of graphic protocols to evaluate the safety of polytrauma patients

Abstract

Objective: The content and face validation of graphic protocols to evaluate the structure, process and outcome of nursing care to polytrauma patients in emergency situations. Methods: Methodological and quantitative study. The Delphi technique was applied in two rounds (Delphi I and Delphi II) for data collection. The Delphi I sample included 15 judges and Delphi II had 13 judges. All items of protocols with Content Validation Index (CVI) greater than 0.78 and a consensus of more than 70.0% in the Delphi technique were considered valid. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Wilcoxon and Binomial Test). The ρ-value ≤ 0.05 was adopted for statistical significance. In addition, the Cronbach's alpha (α) was applied to evaluate the internal consistency of protocols. The item with α ≥ 0.7 was considered reliable. Results: All protocol evaluation requirements reached agreement higher than 80.0% among judges, and all items reached statistically significant evaluation levels. At the end of Delphi II, the three protocols were expressively valid (structure [CVI = 0.92], process [CVI = 0.96], and outcome [CVI = 0.96]) and reliable (structure [α = 0.95], process [α = 0.95], and outcome [α = 0.89]). Conclusion: The content and face complete validation of the protocols was achieved, as well as the internal validation.