Abstract

VILLASIS KEEVER, Miguel Ángel et al. Reliability of nursing records of anthropometric measurements of patients in a tertiary pediatric hospital. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2012, vol.69, n.5, pp.404-410. ISSN 1665-1146.

Background. In pediatric practice, obtaining vital signs and anthropometric measurements are essential elements for the diagnostic-therapeutic process of all patients. We undertook this study to determine the reliability of weight and height information recorded by the nursing staff of patients hospitalized in a pediatric hospital. Methods. A group of nurses previously standardized in taking anthropometric measurements recorded the weight and height of patients who were hospitalized during a 4-week period in 2011. Nursing records of weight and height at the time of hospital admission from each patient were also registered. These nursing records were compared with those obtained by the nurses standardized in taking these measurements. Descriptive analysis was done and weight and height means were compared with t test. Results. We included 192 patients from newborns to adolescents. Overall, the average weights and heights from nursing records were similar to those obtained by the group of nurses previously standardized in anthropometric measurements; however, we documented differences up to 12.6 kg in weight and up to 52 cm in height. In 20 patients there was no nursing record of height and in one patient there was no record of weight. Conclusions. Height and weight records registered by the nursing staff can generally be considered reliable, but with some significant variations. Because of its importance, training and supervision interventions are needed to improve the quality of anthropometric measurements and to avoid errors.

Keywords : weight; height; nursing; quality of care.

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