Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Hamilton Early Warning Score for Brazil

Abstract

Objective: Cross-culturally adapt and validate, for Portuguese, the Hamilton Early Warning Score to detect clinical deterioration in emergency services. Method: Methodological study comprising the stages of translation, synthesis, back translation, expert committee (n=13), pre-test, submission, and analysis of the measurement properties in a sample of 188 patients. The Canadian Acute Scale Triage was compared with the Hamilton Early Warning Score. The Weighted Kappa Coefficient, Intraclass and Pearson Correlation Coefficient, Binary Logistic Regression and the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve were used for data analysis. Results: The Hamilton Early Warning Score showed excellent reliability, α=0.924 (p<0.001). The construct validity identified a strong and negative correlation r=-0.75 and the predictive one presented an odds ratio of 1.63, 95% CI (1.358-1.918) (p<0.001). Conclusion: The Hamilton Early Warning Score in Portuguese is valid and reliable to recognize patients in a condition of clinical deterioration in emergency services.