Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Speech therapy Department, school of Paramedical Sciences and rehabilitation, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Speech therapy Department, school of Paramedical Sciences and rehabilitation, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

3 MASHHAD UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

4 Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences,

5 Speech therapy Department, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, faculty of Paramedical sciences and rehabilitation

10.22038/ijn.2023.70065.2359

Abstract

Background: Feeding difficulties and dysphagia can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, pneumonia, prolonged hospitalization, and even death in neonates. Accordingly, it should be recognized as soon as possible to provide necessary medical care, nursing, and rehabilitation.

Purpose: This study aimed to translate the Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale (NFAS) into Persian and determine its validity and reliability in Iranian neonates.

Method: After receiving permission from developers, the main version of NFAS was translated into Persian. Content and Face validity of Persian version of NFAS was assessed by 10 qualified speech and language pathologists in the field of pediatric swallowing. The translated version of the scale was presented to 52 infants and then, the reliability measures including internal consistency, test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability were computed. Also, the convergent validity of the scale was determined by calculating the point-biserial correlation between NFAS and Early Feeding Skills (EFS) scale.

Results: According to experts, all translated items had content validity and were transparent and understandable. The internal consistency score was obtained at 0.76 by Kuder-Richardson 20. Cohen's Kappa coefficients revealed satisfactory values for test-retest (=0.96) and inter-rater reliabilities (=0.87). The correlation between Persian NFAS and EFS was estimated at 0.63.

Conclusion: Persian version of NFAS is a valid and reliable tool to assess feeding problems and oro-pharyngeal dysphagia in infants and make clinical decisions.

Keywords