Development of a novel coding scheme (SABICS) to record nurse-child interactive behaviours in a community dental preventive intervention

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate the St Andrews Behavioural Interaction Coding Scheme (SABICS): a tool to record nurse-child interactive behaviours. METHODS: The SABICS was developed primarily from observation of video recorded interactions; and refined through an iterative process of applying the scheme to new data sets. Its practical applicability was assessed via implementation of the scheme on specialised behavioural coding software. Reliability was calculated using Cohen's Kappa. Discriminant validity was assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: The SABICS contains 48 codes. Fifty-five nurse-child interactions were successfully coded through administering the scheme on The Observer XT8.0 system. Two visualization results of interaction patterns demonstrated the scheme's capability of capturing complex interaction processes. Cohen's Kappa was 0.66 (inter-coder) and 0.88 and 0.78 (two intra-coders). The frequency of nurse behaviours, such as "instruction" (OR = 1.32, p = 0.027) and "praise" (OR = 2.04, p = 0.027), predicted a child receiving the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The SABICS is a unique system to record interactions between dental nurses and 3-5 years old children. It records and displays complex nurse-child interactive behaviours. It is easily administered and demonstrates reasonable psychometric properties. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The SABICS has potential for other paediatric settings. Its development procedure may be helpful for other similar coding scheme development.