To assess patients pain in intensive care : developing and testing the Swedish version of the Behavioural Pain Scale

• Objectives: The Behavioural Pain Scale has previously been translated into Swedish and psychometrically tested. One of the domains- 'compliance with ventilation'- did not show equally as good psychometric proprieties as the other domains, which led to the question whether a development of that domain would be beneficial. This study aimed to develop the domain of 'breathing pattern' in the Swedish version of the Behavioural Pain Scale and then test the instrument for discriminant validity, inter-rater reliability and criterion validity. Method: The domain 'breathing pattern' was developed and included when the Swedish version of the Behavioural Pain Scale was psychometrically tested in 360 paired assessments. Results: The instrument showed discriminant validity through a significant positive change on the scale before and during turning and inter-rater reliability with an absence of significant disagreement on the scale between the paired assessments. The developed domain had a better result in discriminant validity than the original domain. The instrument also showed higher sensitivity in discriminating pain compared to assessment without an instrument. Conclusion: The Swedish version of the Behavioural Pain Scale, with a developed domain for 'breathing pattern' showed to be a reliable instrument for pain assessment in the adult intensive-care patient. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keyword

Behavioural Pain Scale

Critical care

Intensive care

Pain assessment

Person-centred care

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)