Observation scales for pain assessment in older adults with cognitive impairments or communication difficulties.
BACKGROUND
Several pain observation scales have been developed to accurately assess and manage pain in older adults with severe cognitive impairments, communication difficulties, or both.


OBJECTIVE
To review relevant pain observation scales and the psychometric qualities of these scales.


METHODS
The literature was searched for articles reporting the use of a pain observation scale in an empirical study and describing psychometric properties in older adults with cognitive impairments, communication difficulties, or both.


RESULTS
Thirteen pain observation scales were included. Scales differed in numbers of items, types of categories, and psychometric properties. Facial expression, vocalization, motor behavior, and social behavior or mood are categories present in most of the scales. In terms of reliability and validity, however, most studies are too limited or incomplete to allow definite conclusions to be drawn about usefulness in daily practice.


CONCLUSIONS
As different methods of evaluating reliability and validity were used, and different aims (e.g., type of pain) were pursued, the available scales cannot be compared easily. Nevertheless, a few are promising, given preliminary results. These should be examined further on psychometric properties and usefulness in different populations because optimal pain assessment is necessary for efficient and effective pain treatment.
van Herk
Rhodee
R
Pain Expertise Center, Erasmus MC, and Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. r.vanherk@erasmusmc.nl
van Dijk
Monique
M
Baar
Frans P M
FP
Tibboel
Dick
D
de Wit
Rianne
R
D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders; D003147:Communication Disorders; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D015588:Observer Variation; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results