Reliability Study of the Turkish Translation of Sedation Assessment Scale of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses’

Aim: Even though the sedation treatment is one of the most frequent treatment methods in intensive care units, there is not a comprehensive scale that is used in the sedation manage ment of patients by nurses. The objective of this study is to determine the reliability of the Turkish translation of Sedation Assessment Scale of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses’among the observers. Method: The study was conducted in Anesthesiology and Reanimation Clinic of Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital. The sample of the study was consisted of 20 patients, who were convenient for the inclusion criteria and were supported by mechanical ventilation. The sedation need of each patient was assessed separately and independently twice a day and for totally fi ve days by two observers. Results: It was determined that the age average of patients was 50.76±15.84 years and 55% were male. The harmony of the Sedation Assessment Scale of the American Intensive Care Unit Nurses Union was found to be good (K=0.71-0.92) among the observers for each subscale. Conclusion: The results of the study supports that the Sedation Assessment Scale of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses’is a reliable assessment scale to be used for the sedation management of intensive care patients.