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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Feb 10.
Published in final edited form as: Paediatr Respir Rev. 2017 Feb 15;25:43–57. doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2016.12.006

Table 2.

Principal findings of instruments selected as the best available ones, based on what the instruments measures and how well they have been validated

Instrument References of studies that used the instrument Measured characteristics Scoring Where the instrument’s items originated Assessment of the items for Reliability Validity Usability Key points that make the instrument outstanding
Wood Downes’s modified by Ferres score (WDF). (Flores-Gonzalez JC) [9]. [9, 34]
  • -

    Cyanosis (0–1)

  • -

    Ventilation (0–3)

  • -

    Wheezing (0–3)

  • -

    Retractions (0–3)

  • -

    Respiratory rate (0–3)

  • -

    Heart rate (0–1)

Score (0–14), with higher scores indicating more severe disease. Previous score
  • -

    Endorsement frequency: no

  • -

    Restrictions in range: no

  • -

    Comprehensiveness: no

  • -

    Lack of ambiguity: no

  • -

    Responsiveness: The WDF scale decreased an average of 3.87 points (95% CI, 2.5–6.5) from admission to the time of discharge.[9]

Not assessed Construct validity: The WDF scores in patients who required subsequent admission to the PICUa were significantly higher than those inpatients who required admission only to the PMFb (6(4–8) vs 5(4–8), p=0.026).[9] Patients with scores of the WDF between 4 and 7 had a significant lower LOS compared to patients with scores >7 (4.8 vs. 13.44 days, p<0.0001).[34] Not assessed Adequate construct validity and responsiveness
The respiratory score. (Gajdos V. et al) [6]. [6]
  • -

    Age-based respiratory rate (1–3)

  • -

    Retraction signs (0–3)

  • -

    Wheezing (0–3)

Score (1–9) where higher scores indicate more severe disease The score included parameters of respiratory status easily assessable in children of all ages, particularly in young children, at discretion of authors.
  • -

    Endorsement frequency: no

  • -

    Restrictions in range: no

  • -

    Comprehensiveness: no

  • -

    Lack of ambiguity: no

Inter-rater agreement. For all provider pairs: 93.1%, with a Kw: 0.72 (95% CI, 0.66–0.78). For the various age groups ranged from 87% to 93%, with KWc ranging from 0.62 to 0.78.[6] Not assessed Not assessed Inclusion of simple and well-categorized items readily available even in resource-limited settings), and suitable by all healthcare provider s (except wheezing). Adequate inter-rater agreement

A respiratory clinical score. (Liu LL. et al) [7]. [7]
  • -

    Respiratory rate (0–3)

  • -

    Retractions (0–3)

  • -

    Dyspnea (0–3)

  • -

    Auscultation (0–3)

Score (0–12) with higher scores indicating greater severity of bronchiolitis Items selected for use in the score were derived from a literature review of clinical scores, and were common signs of respiratory status that were easily measured in children of all ages, particularly young children.
  • -

    Endorsement frequency: no

  • -

    Restrictions in range: no

  • -

    Comprehensiveness: no

  • -

    Lack of ambiguity: no

Inter-rater agreement. rater pairs had high observed agreement on total score of 82–88% and Kw ranging from 0.52 (95% CI: 0.19–0.79) to 0.65 (95% CI: 0.46–087).[7] Not assessed Not assessed Inclusion of simple and well-categorized items readily available even in resource-limited settings), and suitable by all healthcare providers (except wheezing). Adequate inter-rater agreement

Bronchiolitis risk of admission score. (Marlais, M. et al.) [15]. [15]
  • -

    Duration of symptoms (0–1)

  • -

    Respiratory rate (0–1)

  • -

    Heart rate (0–1)

  • -

    Oxygen saturation (0–1)

  • -

    Age at presentation (0–1)

Score (0–5) with higher scores indicating greater severity of bronchiolitis Clinical predictors of admission were determined through case note review and logistic regression analysis. The strongest predictors of admission were assimilated into a simple clinical risk scoring system using widely accepted statistical methods. Construct validity: The aROCd for the final clinical risk score was 0.81 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.85). The optimal cut-off using this score was found to be a score of ≥3 requiring admission. At this cutoff the sensitivity was 74% and specificity was 77%. The PPVe was 67% and the NPVf 83%.[15] Inclusion of simple and well-categorized items readily available even in resource-limited settings (except oxygen saturation), and suitable by all healthcare providers, including nonphysician providers. Items were derived from an evidence-based literature review and used a formal procedure for their selection. Adequate construct validity

Respiratory severity scoring (RSS-HR). (Rodriguez H. et al) [16]. [16, 68]
  • -

    Respiratory rate (0–3)

  • -

    Wheezing (0–3)

  • -

    Heart rate (0–3)

  • -

    Accessory muscle use (0–3)

Score (0–12), with higher scores indicating more severe disease. Previous score
  • -

    Endorsement frequency: no

  • -

    Restrictions in range: no

  • -

    Comprehensiveness: no

  • -

    Lack of ambiguity: no

Inter-rater agreement, a perfect agreement was found between observers in the wheezing and accessory muscle scores in six of eight patients. In two patients these scores differed by one point between observers.[68] Construct validity: The RSS-HR median score was higher in infants that were hospitalize d vs. outpatient (8.0 vs. 4.0, p < 0.001).[16] Not assessed Inclusion of simple and well-categorized items readily available even in resource- limited settings), and suitable by all healthcare providers (except wheezing). Adequate construct validity and inter-rater agreement.

The modified Wood’s Clinical Asthma Score (M-WCAS). (Wood DW. et al) [17]. [8, 82]
  • -

    Oxygen saturation (0–2)

  • -

    Inspiratory breath sounds (0–2)

  • -

    Expiratory wheezing (0–2)

  • -

    Use of accessory muscles (0–2)

  • -

    Mental status (0–2)

Score (0–10), with higher scores indicating greater severity of bronchiolitis. The M-WCAS includes “mild” categories of 0.5 points to better define the clinical response to therapy Previous instrument
  • -

    Endorsement frequency: no

  • -

    Restrictions in range: no

  • -

    Comprehensiveness: no

  • -

    Lack of ambiguity: no

  • -

    Responsiveness: The scores of the M-WCAS in patients at admission to the PMF were significantly higher than those obtained immediately before discharge from the hospital [2.5 (1.9–3.0) vs. 1.0 (0.51.6), p<0.001].[8]

Inter-rater agreement. Kw: 0.897 (p<0.001), 95% CI (0.699–1.000).[8] Kw: 0.831.[82] Criterion validity: The scores of the M-WCAS correlated positively with the scores of the Tal score (r=.0.761, p<0.001).[8] Construct validity: The scores of the M-WCAS in patients who required subsequent admission to the PICU were significantly higher than those inpatients who required admission only to the PMF [4.5 (3.6–5.2) vs. 2.5(1.5–2.5), p<0.001].[8] All raters qualified the M-WCAS as easy to score, and they reported that the time required to complete the score ranged from 1 to 3 min.[8] Adequate construct validity, criterion validity, inter-rater agreement, responsiveness, and usability
a

PICU: pediatric intensive care unit

b

PMF: pediatric medical floor

c

Kw: weighted kappa

d

aROC: area under the ROC curve

e

PPV: positive predictive value

f

NPV: negative predictive value