ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The early identification of developmental delay in adolescents by health professionals is relevant for a good prognosis. However, the clinical indicators of development delay are unclear in nursing science. PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical indicators of delayed development in school adolescents. METHODS: A diagnostic accuracy study that investigated delayed development among 385 adolescents in public schools between July and September of 2017. The accuracy measures were analyzed using a latent class analysis based on sensitivity and specificity values. FINDINGS: The delayed development is present in 18.26% of school adolescents. The best accuracy values were as follows: low self-esteem (0.9838), dissatisfaction with own image (0.8400), impaired daily activities (0.9815), internalization behavior (0.8304), outsourcing behavior (0.6367), eating disorders (1.0000), emotional insecurity (0.7093), dependent behavior (0.9836), and altered sexual maturation (0.6085). CONCLUSION: Thus, this set of nine clinical indicators can be used by nurse practitioners to confirm delayed development in school adolescents. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: This research contributes by providing accurate clinical indicators of delayed development in adolescents. Thus, nurses should recognize delayed development in adolescents through accurate clinical indicators and propose nursing interventions that have positive health results.
