Open AccessMeasuring emotional preoperative stress by an app approach and its applicability to predict postoperative pain
Author(s) -
Carolina Lourenzon Schiavo,
Rogério Boff Borges,
Stela Maris de Jezus Castro,
Anelise Schifino Wolmeister,
Andressa de Souza,
Otávio Ritter Silveira Martins,
Gabriela Schneider Galvão,
Kahio César Kuntz Nazário,
Fabian J Nickel,
Wolnei Caumo,
Luciana Paula Cadore Stefani
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0263275
Subject(s) - cronbach's alpha , visual analogue scale , medicine , discriminant validity , concurrent validity , construct validity , perceived stress scale , physical therapy , clinical psychology , stress (linguistics) , psychometrics , internal consistency , linguistics , philosophy
Background The Brief Measure of Emotional Preoperative Stress (B-MEPS) was developed to evaluate the preoperative individual vulnerability to emotional stress. To obtain a refined version of B-MEPS suitable for an app approach, this study aimed: (i) to identify items with more discriminant properties; (ii) to classify the level of preoperative emotional stress based on cut-off points; (iii) to assess concurrent validity through correlation with the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) score; (iv) to confirm whether the refined version of B-MEPS is an adequate predictive measure for identification of patients prone to intense postoperative pain. Methods We include 1016 patients who had undergone surgical procedures in a teaching hospital. The generalized partial credit model of item response theory and latent class model were employed, respectively, to reduce the number of items and to create cut-off points. We applied the CSI and assessed pain by Visual Analog Scale (0–10) and by the amount of postoperative morphine consumption. Results The refined B-MEPS shows satisfactory reliability (Cronbach’s alpha 0.79). Preoperative emotional stress, according to the cut-off points, is classified into categories: low, intermediate or high stress. The refined B-MEPS exhibited a linear association with the CSI scores (r2 = 0.53, p < 0.01). Patients with higher levels of emotional stress displayed a positive association with moderate to severe pain and greater morphine consumption. Conclusion The refined version of B-MEPS, along with an interface of easy applicability, assess emotional vulnerability at the bedside before surgery. This app may support studies focused on intervening with perioperative stress levels.