Perineal dermatitis is one of the main complications of incontinence and increases the cost of health care. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) contains data about factors associated with perineal dermatitis identified in a published conceptual model of perineal dermatitis. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of MDS data related to perineal dermatitis risk factors by comparing them with data in nursing home chart records. Findings indicate that MDS items defining factors associated with perineal dermatitis were valid and supported use of the MDS in further investigation of a significant, costly, and understudied health problem of nursing home residents.Perineal dermatitis (PD) is an inflammation of the skin in the genital, buttock, and thigh areas that can result in decreased well-being and increased health care costs. In mild cases, PD manifests as redness and discomfort. In more severe cases, there is loss of superficial skin layers, a rash or oozing vesicles, and pain. Secondary fungal infection may also occur (Brown & Sears, 1993). It is estimated that 35% of older adults who are incontinent have a rash or redness requiring treatment; the estimated annual cost of such skin irritations in nursing home residents with urinary incontinence is $6.6 billion (Wilson, Brown, Shin, Luc, & Subak, 2001). Yet, few studies about PD or its associated factors in older adults in any setting have been conducted. Bliss, Savik, Harms, Fan, and Wyman (2006) investigated the prevalence and correlates of PD in nursing home residents, guided by a conceptual model of PD (Brown & Sears, 1993). Minimum Data Set (MDS) items were used to represent the factors in the model. Because numerous items from the MDS could be used to define each PD factor, composite variables of MDS items needed to be developed (Savik, Fan, Bliss, & Harms, 2005). This study reports the preliminary analysis of the validity of the MDS items used to operationally define those PD factors. Determining the validity of sources of data or measures of variables Address correspondence to Anna M. Toth, RN, BAN, MSN, 517 Deer Trail, Montgomery, MN 56069; atoth@frontiernet.net.
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Author ManuscriptAuthor Manuscript is important to show the degree to which they measure what they intend to measure. Criterion validity is determined by comparing the relationship between a data source and an external criterion (Polit & Beck, 2004). When the data obtained within the instruments agree or correlate highly with those of the external criterion, the instrument is validated.The purpose of this study was to ascertain the validity of items on the MDS that are postulated to be associated with PD. This was done by determining the agreement between data on the MDS and in the medical and nursing records of nursing home residents. Determining the validity of the MDS items was an important step before the PD factors they defined could be used in any subsequent analysis (Bliss et al., 2006).
LITERATURE REVIEWThe MDS is a stan...