Clinical validation of the nursing outcome falls prevention behavior in people with stroke

•Clinical validation of nursing outcomes is important to refine the classification.•Fall prevention behavior is an important outcome in patients after stroke.•Cultural aspects and finances may play an important role regarding behavior.•The use of definitions for the outcome indicators booster its applicability.

PurposeTo review the nursing outcome, Fall Prevention Behavior, and clinically validate its indicators in people with stroke.MethodsA methodological study performed with 106 patients in two outpatient clinics, from July to September of 2013. Two pairs of trained nurses applied the NOC scale, one with and one without the use of operational definitions. The internal consistency, stability and difference between the medians obtained by nurses were compared within and between pairs.ResultsMost participants were men, elderly, with low education and income. Statistically significant differences were noted in twelve indicators. Five indicators had different means that were greater than the least significant difference.ConclusionsThe indicators were statistically significant; the internal consistency was similar between the pairs and the intraclass correlation coefficient was more satisfactory in the pair that used the definitions. Thus, the construction of empirical referents and the clinical validation process makes the nursing indicators and outcomes more adequate for specific populations and provides an effective means to better evaluate the nursing actions.