Validation of an indicator matrix for the assessment of the Neonatal Hearing Screening Program

ABSTRACT Purpose: to validate an indicator matrix to assess the Neonatal Hearing Screening Program (NHSP). Methods: methodology development research. A total of 13 speech-language-hearing therapists with a specialization in audiology and/or at least three-year experience in neonatal hearing screening participated in the validation process. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to develop the indicator matrix, which was then submitted to the validation process. The results of the specialists’ evaluation, in this stage, were quantitatively analyzed with the item content validation index (I-CVI) and scale content validation index (S-CVI). Results: regarding the indicators classified as quite or fully adequate, the mean I-CVI was the same as the mean S-CVI (0.95), evidencing excellence in their content validity. Concerning the scores classified as quite or fully adequate, the I-CVI mean was also identical to that of S-CVI (0.83), thus, reaching a consensus. Conclusion: this matrix with 33 indicators that had their content validated with consensus, will consistently contribute to assessing NHS services in Brazil.