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Test‐Retest Reliability of Pain Measures in Institutionalized Older Adults: Number of Painful Body Sites, Pain Intensity, and Pain Extent
Author(s) -
Silva Anabela G.,
De Francesco Silvia,
Rodrigues Milton,
Queirós Alexandra,
Cerqueira Margarida
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pain practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1533-2500
pISSN - 1530-7085
DOI - 10.1111/papr.12954
Subject(s) - medicine , intraclass correlation , confidence interval , physical therapy , intensity (physics) , standard error , threshold of pain , body mass index , anesthesia , psychometrics , statistics , clinical psychology , physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics
Objective The reliability of pain assessment in frail and older adults has seldom been assessed. This study aims to assess the test‐retest reliability of (1) the number of painful body sites, (2) pain intensity, and (3) pain extent in institutionalized older adults. Methods Seventy‐four older adults who were institutionalized were assessed in 2 separate sessions, 2 days to 1 week apart, for pain intensity, number of painful body sites, and pain extent (in pixels) using a vertical pain numeric scale (0 to 10), a body chart divided into 50 body regions, and ImageJ, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable differences (MDDs) were calculated. Results In session 1, the mean values (± standard deviation) were 5.54 ± 2.12 points for pain intensity, 4.47 ± 3.27 for number of painful body sites, and 2,726.00 ± 2,322.09 for pain extent. ICCs were 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.72 to 0.89) for pain intensity, 0.89 (95% CI = 0.83 to 0.93) for number of painful body sites, and 0.74 (95% CI = −0.07 to 0.91) for pain area. The MDDs were 2.46 for pain intensity, 3.14 for number of painful body sites, and 4,997.60 for pain extent. Conclusions The vertical pain rating scale and the body chart seem reliable to assess pain intensity and number of pain sites, respectively. The wide CI for the ICC found for pain area and the high measurement error compromise its potential clinical relevance.