Developing the Nausea and Vomiting Thermometer Scale in children with cancer

Abstract

Background/aim: This study aimed to develop the Nausea and Vomiting Thermometer Scale (NVTS) in children with cancer. Materials and methods: This methodological study was conducted on 250 children with cancer at the research and training university hospital in Turkey between September 2019 and January 2020. The t-test, the ROC analysis, the Diagnostic index, and the Youden index were used for determining the scale of the cutting point. The regression analysis, the intra-class correlation coefficient, and the Bland- Altman analysis were used for the data analysis. Results: The scale-level content validity index was .94, which was coherent. As a result of the ROC analysis, the cut-off point was determined as three points. The NVTS showed good reliability, with an intra-class correlation coefficient of .99. In the linear regression analysis, a model was created for chemotherapy drugs, nausea and vomiting type, vomiting status, and the number of children with cancer who vomited explained 44.9% of their nausea and vomiting status. The results of the Bland-Altman analysis showed that the correlation coefficient between the differences and the means was insignificant. Conclusion: The NVTS was found to be a valid and reliable measurement tool for children with cancer in the Turkish sample.