The Validity and Reliability of Early Feeding Skills Assessment and Cue-Based Feeding Scales for Preterm Infants

Background: One of the fundamental factors in infants’ readiness to discharge from Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is attaining full oral feeding. Determining development requires instruments comprehensively assess skills and process Objectives: This study aimed measure validity reliability Early Feeding Skill assessment (EFS) subscales cue-based feeding (Oral Readiness scale (OFRS) Oral Quality (OFQS)). Methods: Participants consisted 30 preterm infants born at gestational age (GA) ≤ 34 weeks Dr. Shariati Hospital, Tehran University Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Infants were enrolled by convenience sampling. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) Weighted Kappa used reliability, Spearman Pearson’s coefficient test convergent discriminant validity. Results: The inter- intra-rater all dimensions EFS good (ICC ranged 0.77 0.95) except reliabiltiy for ability maintain physiologic stability coordinate swallowing was moderate. inter-rater scales excellent (Weighted > 0.74). reliablity indicated agreement OFRS = 0.73) OFQS 0.75). There an inverse between most (P < 0.05), 0.05). a significant dimension post menstrual (PMA) (r 38, 0.05) recovery GA 0.37, inversely correlated with PMA Conclusions: are valid reliable infants; however, using only one these solely evaluate not enough.