Validation and Clinical Experience With a Turkish Language Version of the Pittman Ostomy Complication and Severity Index

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the content validity and interrater reliability of a Turkish language version of the Pittman Ostomy Complication and Severity Index (OCSI). DESIGN: Psychometric evaluation of instrument. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The sample comprised 90 individuals living with an ostomy for 2 to 6 months. Their mean age was 59.48 years (SD 13.292), 52.2% were female. Almost two-thirds (73.3%, n = 66) had experienced at least 1 ostomy complication. The study was conducted in the Wound and Stoma Therapy Unit of the Dokuz Eylül University Hospital General Surgery Clinic and Polyclinic in Izmir, Turkey. METHODS: A Turkish language version of the OCSI was created using a translation, back-translation technique. The instrument’s content validity was analyzed by 26 experts. Interrater reliability test was evaluated using Cohen’s κ and intraclass correlation coeffi cients. Data were collected between January 15, 2017 and July 30, 2017 through face-to-face interviews conducted in our Wound and Stoma Therapy Unit. RESULTS: The overall content validity index was 0.95. Cohen’s κ coeffi cient varied from 0.70 and 1.0 for all items. The Pearson correlation coeffi cient and intraclass correlation coeffi cient were 0.982 ( P = .000) and 0.986 ( P = .000), respectively, indicating good internal consistency. The most prevalent complications were leakage (41.1%), peristomal moisture-associated skin damage (42.2%), and stomal retraction (27.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that the Turkish language version of the Pittman OCSI is a reliable and valid instrument for assessment of presence and severity of early postoperative complications in individuals with an ostomy. We found the instrument parsimonious, easy-to-use, and clinically practical. It can be used to determine appropriate interventions to prevent or treat complications and evaluate the effects of nursing interventions designed to improve outcomes for patients with ostomies.