Developing a Pain Intensity Measure for Persons with Dementia: Initial Construction and Testing.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The goal of this study was to identify a limited set of pain indicators that were most predicive of physical pain. We began with 140 items culled from existing pain observation tools and used a modified Delphi approach followed by statistical analyses to reduce the item pool.

Methods

Through the Delphi Method, we created a candidate item set of behavioral indicators. Next, trained staff observed nursing home residents and rated the items on scales of behavior intensity and frequency. We evaluated associations among the items and expert clinicians' assessment of pain intensity.

Setting

Four government-owned nursing homes and 12 community nursing homes in Alabama and Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Participants

Ninety-five residents (mean age = 84.9 years) w

SUBMITTER: Ersek M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9513703 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature