Rationale, aims and objectives: The Withdrawal Assessment Tool (WAT-1) is one of the most widely used clinician-reported outcome measures to evaluate iatrogenic withdrawal symptoms (IWS) in critically ill children. However, the WAT-1's measurement properties have not been aggregated. Aggregating psychometric research on the WAT-1 will enhance appropriate use, and outline gaps for future empirical research. The aim of this systematic review is to critically appraise, compare, and summarize the measurement properties and evidence quality, and describe the interpretability and feasibility of the WAT-1 for identifying IWS symptoms in critically ill children.
Methods: A systematic search of Medline, Embase and CINAHL was conducted from inception to 15 April 2020. Study inclusion/exclusion, data extraction, and measurement property evidence and the modified GRADE quality scoring were applied according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines.
Results: Six studies were included in the review. There was sufficient, high-quality evidence for reliability, structural validity, criterion validity, measurement error, construct validity, and feasibility. More information is required to support the WAT-1's content validity, responsiveness, internal consistency, cross-cultural validity, and interpretability according to COSMIN guidelines.
Conclusion: The results of this review indicate that the WAT-1 is a precise, easy to use measure of IWS in critically ill children despite some measurement property inconsistencies and gaps in the publication record. More information is required to support its content validity, responsiveness, internal consistency, cross-cultural validity, and interpretability.
Keywords: critical care; health care; iatrogenic disease; outcome assessment; paediatrics; psychometrics; systematic review.
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