Pain in US nursing homes: Validating a pain scale for the minimum data set

Citation
Be. Fries et al., Pain in US nursing homes: Validating a pain scale for the minimum data set, GERONTOLOGI, 41(2), 2001, pp. 173-179
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science
Journal title
GERONTOLOGIST
ISSN journal
00169013 → ACNP
Volume
41
Issue
2
Year of publication
2001
Pages
173 - 179
Database
ISI
SICI code
0016-9013(200104)41:2<173:PIUNHV>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to validate a pain scale for the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment instrument and examine prevalence of pain in maj or nursing home subpopulations, including type of admission and cognitive s tatus. Design and Methods: This study considered validation of the MDS pain items and derivation of scale performed against the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), using Automatic Interaction Detection. The derivation data describe 95 postacute care nursing home patients who are able to communicate. The sc ale is then used in retrospective analysis of 34,675 Michigan nursing home residents. Results: A four-group scale was highly predictive of VAS pain sc ores (variance explanation 56%) and therefore quite valid in detecting pain . In the prevalence sample, only 47% of postacute patients compared to 63% of postadmission patients reported no pain, and these percentages rose with increasing cognitive impairment. Implications: Pain is prevalent in nursin g home residents, especially in those with cognitive dysfunction, and often untreated.