title: Sources of Discomfort in Persons with Dementia: Scale and Initial Results.
abstract: The Sources of Discomfort Scale (SODS) assesses discomfort manifestations based on source of discomfort, thus making it both distinct from and complementary to pain assessments for persons with dementia. Sources were categorized as pertaining to physical discomfort, to body position, and to environmental sources. Body position sources of discomfort were related to poor functional status and to pain. The SODS scores were not related to cognitive functioning, and sources of discomfort other than those pertaining to body position were not correlated with pain. This paper demonstrates a direct and enhanced method to detect the manifestations of discomfort separately from pain indicators in a population with advanced dementia. The determination of the source of discomfort has direct implications for intervention.
authors.affiliation: Minerva Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of End of Life, Tel-Aviv University, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel ; Department of Health Promotion, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Herczeg Institute on Aging, Tel-Aviv University, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel ; Innovative Aging Research, 807 Horton Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20902, USA.
authors.forename: Jiska
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cohen-Mansfield
authors.affiliation: Innovative Aging Research, 807 Horton Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20902, USA.
authors.forename: Khin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thein
authors.affiliation: Innovative Aging Research, 807 Horton Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20902, USA.
authors.forename: Marcia S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.affiliation: Innovative Aging Research, 807 Horton Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20902, USA.
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dakheel-Ali
authors.affiliation: Innovative Aging Research, 807 Horton Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20902, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010808:Physical Examination