Pediatric Alert Score: evaluation of measurement properties

■ Clinical deterioration is a global concern related to patient safety.
■ The Pediatric Alert Score includes assessments of neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular conditions; temperature; and urine output.
■ The Pediatric Alert Score demonstrated high reliability and strong validity with the B-PEWS-Br.
■ The Pediatric Alert Score is a reliable tool for detecting clinical deterioration and improving patient safety.

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To evaluate the construct validity and reliability of the Pediatric Alert Score in hospitalized children and adolescents.

Methods:

This methodological study included 84 children aged 0-14 years. Data were collected using three instruments: a sociodemographic and clinical characterization form, the Brazilian version Brighton Pediatric Early Warning Score, and the Pediatric Alert Score. The reliability of the Pediatric Alert Score was assessed using interobserver equivalence expressed by the intraclass correlation coefficient, and the construct validity was evaluated using Spearman’s correlation analysis of the Pediatric Alert Score and the Brighton Pediatric Early Warning Score.

Results:

The reliability analysis of the Pediatric Alert Score revealed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.95 (95% confidence interval from 0.93-0.97), and the Spearman’s correlation coefficient was 0.53 (p<0.0001), indicating a strong positive correlation between the instruments.