Abstract
Nutrition diagnosis is essential to the nutrition care process. Diagnostic content validation provides evidence diagnoses exist. To validate the content of 22 oncologic diagnoses, a questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 300 registered dietitians (Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group members). Each diagnosis had a Nutrition Diagnoses Validation Instrument, which listed the diagnostic label and its components (diagnosis, definition, etiology, and sign/symptom). Participants rated components on a 5-point Likert scale, indicating how fit characteristic each diagnostic label. A diagnostic content validity score (DCVS) and a total DCVS were calculated. All of the definitions achieved DCV scores >= 0.80. Thirty-six etiologies and 34.3% of the signs/symptoms were minor. One etiology and sign/symptom scored <= 0.50. The total DCV scores for the components ranged from 0.71 to 1.0, indicating that they represented the diagnosis. The diagnoses signify what occurs in practice; however, some refinement may be necessary.