Turkish adaptation of the Newborn Respiratory Distress Observation Scale: Validity and reliability study

This study was conducted methodologically to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish Respiratory Distress Observation Scale in Newborn in newborns with respiratory distress. After the approval of the ethics committee and institutional permissions, data were collected from 140 37-week-old infants who were followed up with respiratory distress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Gaziosmanpaşa University Hospital and Tokat State Hospital by both the researcher and the neonatal intensive care nurses using the Descriptive Information Form and Respiratory Distress Observation Scale in Newborns. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the data. Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated, whether the sample was adequate was assessed by the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test, and whether the scale was factorable was assessed by Barlett's Sphericity Test. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient, and Item Total Score Correlations (ITSC) were calculated. At the same time, Independent Interobserver Agreement Values from reliability analyses were calculated with the Fleiss Kappa formula. The Respiratory Distress in Newborns Observation Scale was found to be suitable for the Turkish language, the CGI value was found to be ≥ 0.91 and, the KMO coefficient was calculated as 0.606 and the sample size was found to be sufficient. Bartlett's Test of Sphericity found that the approximate chi-square value (231,035, p<0.001) was significant. Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was found to be 0.642. The Corrected Item Total Correlation value after reverse coding was calculated as 0.239. Fleiss Kappa Value was found to be 0.421. This value shows that the agreement between independent observers is significant. According to the results of CFA and EFA, the total variance of the scale was found to be 59.522%. Since above 60% is acceptable for factor analysis, the scale was evaluated as a single factor. Fit indices obtained as a result of CFA; Chi-Square Degree of Freedom (χ2/df) 2.166, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) 0.072, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) values 0.940, Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) was calculated as 0.957, Scaled Fit Index (NFI) was calculated as 0.900, Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (AGFI) was calculated as 0.899 and it was determined that the model had a good fit. It was determined that the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale in Newborns can validly measure the construct it aims to measure in Turkish culture and the construct validity of the scale was ensured. According to the results of this study, it was concluded that the 'Newborn Respiratory Distress Observation Scale' is a valid and reliable measurement tool for Turkish culture. According to the results of this study, it was concluded that the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale in Newborn is a valid and reliable measurement tool for Turkish culture. It is recommended that this measurement tool, which was applied to infants at 37 weeks of gestational age who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit with respiratory distress, be applied to all infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit and followed up with respiratory distress. It is also recommended to be used as a measurement tool in new studies to determine respiratory distress in newborns. Keywords: Respiratory Distress, Newborn, Validity and Reliability