Construction and validation of the risk assessment scale for deep vein thrombosis in high altitude plateau areas

Objective: To develop a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk assessment scale suitable in plateau areas and to test its reliability and validity. Methods: Based on a previous large-scale survey, combined with literature search and group discussions, an item pool for the DVT risk assessment scale in high-altitude areas was constructed. The items were discussed and revised through two rounds of Delphi expert consultations. The Analytic Hierarchy Process was used to determine the weight of each item and assign scores. A convenience sampling method was employed to select 214 patients admitted to a tertiary Hospital in Qinghai People from October 2023 to December 2023 as the research subjects. Discriminant validity and risk stratification were used to classify the overall risk level of the scale. Results: The Risk Assessment Scale for Deep Vein Thrombosis in Plateau Areas consists of 5 dimensions and 31 items. The Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.953, and the split-half coefficient was 0.957. The scale-level content validity index was 0.91, and the item-level content validity index ranged from 0.72 to 1.00. The area under the ROC curve was 0.73, with a 95% CI (0.655, 0.805), and the cutoff value was 14.5 points. Conclusion: The Risk Assessment Scale for Deep Vein Thrombosis in Plateau Areas developed in this study has good reliability and validity, and can scientifically and effectively assess the risk of DVT formation in hospitalized patients in high-altitude areas.