# Validation of the SCOPETAS Scale for Nursing Professionals in Pediatric Interhospital Transport

## TL;DR

This study validates the SCOPETAS scale for nurses in pediatric interhospital transport, showing strong agreement with physicians' decisions, especially in severe cases.

## Contribution

The study provides the first validation of the SCOPETAS scale specifically for nursing professionals in pediatric transport settings.

## Key findings

- Nurses achieved 91.4% correct team composition decisions in severe cases and 73.9% in mild cases.
- The SCOPETAS scale showed high concordance with physicians' decisions when used by nurses.
- Having a Master’s degree was inversely associated with decision accuracy among nurses.

## Abstract

Background: Pediatric Interhospital Transport demands highly specialized, coordinated care to ensure safety and continuity across settings. The SCOPETAS scale, recently adapted into Spanish from the Pediatric Transport Triage Tool, has been validated for physicians but not for nurses. Objective: To validate the SCOPETAS scale for use by nursing professionals in Pediatric Interhospital Transport. Methods: A cross-sectional inter-rater reliability study using clinical vignettes was conducted between December 2024 and February 2025 with nurses from eight hospitals within a Spanish autonomous community. Participants applied the SCOPETAS scale to two simulated pediatric transport scenarios. Agreement with physicians’ decisions (gold standard) was analyzed using weighted kappa statistics, logistic regression, and ROC curve analysis. Results: A total of 128 nurses participated (91% female; mean age, 39.5 years). Correct team composition decisions were achieved in 91.4% of severe cases and 73.9% of mild cases. Overall concordance with physicians was high. Possession of a Master’s degree was inversely associated with decision accuracy. Conclusions: When applied by nurses, the SCOPETAS scale demonstrated strong agreement with physicians’ decisions, particularly in severe scenarios. Its implementation may enhance patient safety, optimize resource allocation, and promote nursing autonomy in Pediatric Interhospital Transport, supporting its integration into clinical practice as a validated, evidence-based decision-support tool for pediatric transport triage.