Development and validation of an educational tool on hypodermoclysis for palliative care professionals

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Hypodermoclysis has gained increasing recognition as a safe, effective, and minimally invasive method for administering medication and fluids in palliative care. Despite its advantages, its adoption remains limited, primarily due to a lack of structured training resources for healthcare professionals. This study aimed to develop and validate an educational tool for training clinical nurses in hypodermoclysis administration in palliative care. Methods: This is a methodological study with a multi-methods approach. Study development involved a needs assessment with 48 professionals, a literature review, and the creation of a manual enriched with visual aids. Results: The material was validated by expert judges, technical reviewers, and the target audience. Organized into 21 chapters, the manual comprehensively addresses technical, theoretical, and ethical dimensions of the practice. Content validation by 14 experts yielded an outstanding global Content Validity Index (CVI) of 0.95. An independent evaluation of visual design by four communication specialists produced consistently high scores (91–96%), classifying the material as “superior” in quality. Feedback from target users (12 nurses) highlighted the manual’s clarity, applicability, and relevance. All constructive suggestions were incorporated into the final version. Conclusions: The resulting manual demonstrates strong validity as an educational resource, with significant potential to standardize and enhance hypodermoclysis training in palliative nursing, promoting both safety and humanized care.