Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of PainChek® in UK Aged Care Residents with advanced dementia

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to further validate PainChek®, an electronic pain assessment instrument, with a population living with dementia in a UK care home. Method This study utilised a correlational design to evaluate the psychometric properties of PainChek® when compared to the Abbey Pain Scale (APS). Blinded paired pain assessments were completed at rest and immediately post-movement by a researcher and a nurse. A total of 22 participants with a diagnosis of moderate-to-severe dementia and a painful condition were recruited using opportunity sampling. Results Overall, 302 paired assessments were collected for 22 participants. Out of these 179 were conducted during rest and 123 were immediately post-movement. The results demonstrated a positive significant correlation between overall PainChek® pain scores and overall APS pain scores (r = 0.818, N = 302, p < .001, one-tailed), satisfactory internal consistency (α = 0.810), moderate single measure intraclass correlation (ICC = 0.680) and substantial inter-rater agreement (κ = 0.719). Conclusions PainChek® has demonstrated to be a valid and reliable instrument to assess the presence and severity of pain in people with moderate-to-severe dementia living in aged care.

Pain Assessment for Individuals with Advanced Dementia in Care Homes: A Systematic Review

“…Despite the most recent update of these guidelines being in 2009, they remain relevant to current approaches to assessing pain in this population. They are recognised as the basis to observational pain assessment tools, as reflected in more recent studies and guidelines [ 1 , 6 , 46 ]. However, it is also recognised that the interpretation of these behaviours is complex when applied to dementia.…”

Analgesic Effect of Auricular Point Acupressure for Acute Pain in Patients with Dementia: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Inclusion criteria include: 5) their healthy condition permits the use of a multifunctional pulse oxygen monitor; (6) understanding the meaning of the FPS-R; (7) volunteering to participate in the study and signing the informed consent (caregivers, patients, and/or family members). Exclusion criteria are as follows: (1) moderate or severe dementia; (2) medical contraindication for ear acupressure (in ammation, ulcers, frostbite in the ear); (3) history of allergy to adhesive tape and alcohol; (4) critically ill patients who have no response to the effectiveness and safety of new treatments (serious heart, brain, liver, kidney, or hematopoietic system diseases) (5) patients who received drugs for pain management.…”

“…It is estimated that prevalence of pain in dementia patients residing in the nursing home is 19%-83% and pain they are suffering is di cult to assessed and inadequately treated [2][3][4]. There is also guideline that indicates that the incidence of acute pain is as high as 75% in elderly care facilities, but even higher for chronic pain [5]. Furthermore, uncontrolled pain causes many detrimental consequences for patients with dementia in nursing homes, such as distressing psychological, social isolation, daily activity and function limitation, sleep disturbances, hospital stays prolonging and medical expenses increasing [6][7][8].…”

Effect of Auricular Acupressure on Acute Pain in Nursing Home Residents with Mild Dementia: A Single-Blind, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Study

“…Pain is the most common complaint of residents with dementia in nursing homes. e prevalence of pain among residents is significantly higher than in other communities, with numerous studies indicating that as many as 40% to 80% of these residents with dementia were affected by pain [4][5][6]. A study in Europe reported that up to 82.9% of senior citizens with dementia experience pain in the nursing home [7].…”