A review of psychometric properties of feeding assessment tools used in neonates.
OBJECTIVE
To appraise the psychometric properties of clinical feeding assessment tools used in a neonatal population.


METHODS
PubMed, OvidMedline, CINHAL, and PsycINFO databases from 1980 to 2007. Reference lists of all identified articles were also reviewed.


METHODS
Research reports written in English that utilized or validated clinical feeding assessment tools.


METHODS
In total, 941 articles were reviewed. Seven neonatal clinical feeding assessment tools were identified and categorized into three groups: tools used for assessing either bottle-feeding or breastfeeding behaviors, tools used only for assessing bottle-feeding behaviors, and tools used only for assessing breastfeeding behaviors.


RESULTS
The psychometric properties of none of the seven assessment tools identified were satisfactory, and the limited representativeness of the samples of the psychometric research was noted in all assessment tools identified. The Neonatal Oral-Motor Assessment Scale appeared to have been examined more thoroughly and showed more consistent results in psychometric properties than the others, despite its own limitations.


CONCLUSIONS
A psychometrically sound neonate feeding assessment tool has not yet been empirically validated. Clinicians who use these tools for clinical and research purposes should take into account this lack of evidence of psychometric soundness and interpret results of assessment with precautions. Well-designed research is needed to study the scientific integrity of these instruments for program evaluations in neonatal care.
Department of Occupational Therapy, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York, USA.
Tsu-Hsin
TH
Howe
Keh-Chung
KC
Lin
Chung-Pei
CP
Fu
Chia-Ting
CT
Su
Ching-Lin
CL
Hsieh
D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D018401:Sample Size; D013391:Sucking Behavior