Content Validity of the Omaha System Target Terms for Integrative Healthcare Interventions

Background and Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the content validity of the Omaha System to represent integrative healthcare (IH) interventions.Methods: A two-step classification procedure was used to validate Omaha System target terms that can represent IH interventions. Target terms were initially sorted based on evidence of use in IH interventions, including systematic reviews published in scientific journals and the Omaha System Guidelines website. Three Omaha System and integrative nursing content experts reviewed and validated target terms based on their definitions. Expert comments were reviewed and addressed, and final decisions were reached by consensus.Results: The content validity of Omaha System target terms was established for 49 of 75 (65.3%) target terms for IH interventions. These 49 targets were employed in 1145 of 1639 (69.9%) interventions in all Omaha System guidelines available online.Implications for Practice: A majority of Omaha System target terms may be used to represent IH interventions. Use of the Omaha System may facilitate efficient, structured, and thorough IH data collection to leverage informatics technology for supporting IH intervention clinical decisions, delivery, evaluation, and knowledge discovery.