Aim
To develop a comprehensive, hands‐on assessment tool for assessing health in children under five in underserved regions.
Design
Methodological study design and usability testing were used.
Sample
Eight nurses working at two health posts and 261 children under five living in the migrant villages participated in the study.
Measurement
The developed tool was evaluated using 10 items of a questionnaire based on the honeycomb model of Morville (2004). Community nurses administered the questionnaire then followed with a focus group interview after completing a child health exam using the developed tool. Data were collected during July 2017.
Results
The Hands‐on Assessment Tool for Child Health is composed of developmental screening, identification of risk factors and clinical signs, growth measurement, diagnostic tests and interpretation of each subdomain, and final impressions. Management strategies include parent education, resource networking, referral to a paediatrician, and follow‐up plans. Usability testing revealed high scores on the facets “valuable,” “useful,” “desirable,” and “findable.”
Conclusions
Considering the demand for hands‐on tools in underserved regions, the developed tool can provide nurses with resources for competent management of child assessment, interpretation, and nurses' intervention strategies, fortified with clinical judgement processes.