Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Apr 1;23(2):187-194.
doi: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000000736.

Respiratory Distress Observation Scale Italian Version: Cultural-Linguistic Validation and Psychometric Properties

Stefania Tinti, Anne Destrebecq, Stefano Terzoni, Beatrice De Maria, Graziella Falcone, Daria Da Col, Giulia Pairona, Carla Longhi, Elisa Giudici, Irene Maria Pidone, Annalisa Alberti, Michele Sofia, Ida Ramponi, Margaret L Campbell

Respiratory Distress Observation Scale Italian Version: Cultural-Linguistic Validation and Psychometric Properties

Stefania Tinti et al. J Hosp Palliat Nurs. .

Abstract

Dyspnea can be assessed using self-rating scales but, as death approaches, self-reporting becomes difficult. The validated Respiratory Distress Observation Scale measures dyspnea distress. The aim of this study was to develop the Italian version of the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale and to examine its psychometric properties. This was a cross-sectional study, analyzing cultural and linguistic validation, content validity, and psychometric properties. Eighty-nine palliative care subjects were enrolled to validate the Italian version of the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale. Patients had an average age of 74.5 (SD, 11.6) years, and 52% (n = 46) were female. Fourteen experts in palliative care evaluated the Italian Respiratory Distress Observation Scale in terms of the content validity ratio and the content validity index (CVI). The Italian Respiratory Distress Observation Scale was reported with an internal consistency (Cronbach α value) of .72 and an overall substantial interrater reliability (Cohen κ method). The Italian Respiratory Distress Observation Scale achieved a scale-level CVI of 93%, an items-level CVI of greater than 86%, and a minimum content validity ratio value of 0.71. A weak positive correlation was found between the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale and the Dyspnea Visual Analog Scale scores (0.374; P < .001). The Italian Respiratory Distress Observation Scale showed good reliability and validity for patients in palliative care. The Respiratory Distress Observation Scale measured respiratory distress in patients nearest to death.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

References

    1. Mahler DA, O'Donnell DE. Recent advances in dyspnea. Chest . 2015;147(1):232–241.
    1. Campbell ML, Kiernan JM, Strandmark J, Yarandi HN. Trajectory of dyspnea and respiratory distress among patients in the last month of life. J Palliat Med . 2018;21(2):194–199.
    1. Campbell ML, Templin T, Walch J. Patients who are near death are frequently unable to self-report dyspnea. J Palliat Med . 2009;12(10):881–884.
    1. Campbell ML. Respiratory distress: a model of responses and behaviors to an asphyxial threat for patients who are unable to self-report. Heart Lung . 2008;37(1):54–60.
    1. Campbell ML. Psychometric testing of a Respiratory Distress Observation Scale. J Palliat Med . 2008;11(1):44–50.

LinkOut - more resources