ABSTRACT
Objective:
to analyze the accuracy measurements of clinical indicators of the nursing diagnosis Ineffective airway clearance.
Method:
cross-sectional study with 205 asthmatic children treated in the emergency unit of a hospital in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará. An interview script and pulmonary evaluation were used for data collection.
Results:
the diagnosis of Ineffective airway clearance was present in 89.3% of the sample. The most prevalent clinical indicators were dyspnea, change in respiratory rate, change in respiratory rhythm, orthopnea, adventitious respiratory sounds and ineffective cough. The clinical indicators with highest sensitivity were dyspnea, change in respiratory rate, change in respiratory rhythm, orthopnea and adventitious respiratory sounds. Ineffective cough and adventitious respiratory sounds were the indicators with best specifi city.
Conclusion:
the clinical indicator adventitious respiratory sounds was the best predictor of Ineffective airway clearance in asthmatic children treated in emergency units.
Key words:
Asthma; Nursing Diagnosis; Child