Pain assessment in nonverbal older adults with advanced dementia

Authors:

Smith, M.

Abstract:

TOPIC: Pain assessment is a particular challenge among individuals with advanced dementia who lack the ability to formulate and express their experience of discomfort.

PURPOSE: Awareness of pain scales and methods specifically designed for use with nonverbal individuals with dementia is critical to expanded use and testing in clinical settings.

SOURCES: Computerized literature searches using four databases revealed the five observational scales and two caregiver reports methods reviewed.

CONCLUSIONS: A small number of valid, reliable, and sensitive scales are available for use by nurses and allied health personnel. Each has strengths and limitations and all would benefit from additional testing.

DOI:

10.1111/j.1744-6163.2005.00021.x

URL:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16138819

Journal:

Perspect Psychiatr Care

issn:

0031-5990 (Print)

Publication year:

2005

pages:

99-113

Symptom status:

Physical state

Age:

Seniors (65+)

Disease:

Diseases of and symptoms related to the nervous system
Mental and behavioural disorders and related symptoms

PRO / non-PRO:

Non-patient Reported Outcome

Type of measurement instrument:

1 - Questionnaires
6 - Clinical rating scales
7 - Observations

Instrument:

CNPI - Checklist for Nonverbal Pain Indicators
Comfort Checklist
DS-DAT - Discomfort Scale –Dementia of Alzheimer Type
Observed Pain Behavior Scale
PADE - Pain Assessment for the Dementing Elderly
PAINAD - Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia Scale (versions: C-Painad - Chinese PAINAD)