Discerning Post Anesthesia Readiness for Transition (DPART): A Measurement Tool

Abstract

Purpose: To develop a valid reliable measurement tool that accurately quantifies postanesthesia recuperation in adult and pediatric patients.

Design: A descriptive factor-isolating design guided by measurement theory.

Methods: Instrument development was based on collaborative discussions of professional evidence. A five-person expert panel was consulted for content and face validity. Reliability testing took place in the adult and pediatric postanesthesia care units.

Findings: The expert panel's final review yielded a kappa statistic of 1 and scale content validity index based on universal agreement between raters of 1, suggesting high content validity. Reliability testing yielded a kappa statistic of 1, demonstrating complete agreement for all items.

Conclusions: The Discerning Post Anesthesia Readiness for Transition measurement tool is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used in practice or future research to assess postanesthesia recuperation in pediatric and adult patients.

Keywords: PACU; PARS; aldrete; discharge criteria; pediatric; postanesthesia.