Classification tree to screen for the nursing diagnosis Ineffective airway clearance

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the defining characteristics of Ineffective airway clearance with better predictive power using classification trees. Method: the predictive power of the defining characteristics of Ineffective airway clearance was evaluated based on classification trees generated from the data of 249 children with acute respiratory infection. Results: Ineffective cough and adventitious breath sounds were identified as the main defining characteristics when screening for Ineffective airway clearance in accordance with trees based on three different computational algorithms. Conclusion: Ineffective coughing and adventitious breath sounds had better predictive capacity for Ineffective airway clearance in the sample.

摘要：本研究旨在采用分类树（classification trees）方法，筛选出预测效能更优的无效气道清除（Ineffective airway clearance）界定特征。研究方法：本研究基于249例急性呼吸道感染儿童的临床数据集生成分类树，以此评估无效气道清除各界定特征的预测效能。研究结果：基于三种不同计算算法（computational algorithms）生成的分类树均显示，在筛查无效气道清除时，无效咳嗽与异常呼吸音（adventitious breath sounds）为主要界定特征。研究结论：本研究样本中，无效咳嗽与异常呼吸音对无效气道清除具备更优的预测能力。