Content validation of a caregiver diary to monitor severity and recovery of pediatric patients with respiratory syncytial virus infection

Sophi Tatlock, Sarah Bentley, Rob Arbuckle, Linda Abetz-Webb, Jane Scott

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a leading cause of hospitalization and serious respiratory illness in infants/young children. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify important RSV-related signs of illness in infants that were observed by the parent/caregiver of the child and (2) assess content validity and usability of the Pediatric RSV Electronic Severity and Outcomes Rating System (PRESORS) to monitor signs of RSV-related illness.

Review of medical literature identified signs of pediatric RSV-related illness in PRESORS. Semi-structured interviews with caregivers of infants (0-24 months of age) hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed RSV infection (in the two months prior to recruitment) were conducted to spontaneously elicit signs and impacts of the infant's illness from caregiver observations. Caregivers completed PRESORS using a "think-aloud" protocol to confirm comprehension, relevance, and usability of the smartphone application. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis methods and Atlas.ti software.

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