title: Pain assessment in elderly with dementia: Brazilian validation of the PACSLAC scale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To validate the Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate - Portuguese in demented elderly and to analyze its measurement properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 50 elderly with dementia, residing in a nursing home and with limited communication ability, when exposed to potentially painful situations. The tool was applied at two different moments. First, two interviewers applied it simultaneously, and the intensity of pain was asked based on the caregiver's opinion. After 14 days, with no analgesic intervention, one of the interviewers applied it again.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample comprised more females, aged over 80 years, with dementia due to Alzheimer, presenting musculoskeletal pain of moderate to severe intensity. The psychometric properties of the tool demonstrated appropriate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.827). The scale had excellent reproducibility, according to the intraclass correlation coefficient, and the tool has been duly validated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate - Portuguese had adequate measuring properties for use with elderly presenting limited communication.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Validar o Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate - Portuguese em idosos dementados e analisar as propriedades de suas medições.
  Foram avaliados 50 idosos dementados, residentes de uma casa de repouso e com capacidade de comunicação verbal limitada, quando expostos a situações potencialmente dolorosas. A ferramenta foi utilizada em dois momentos diferentes. Primeiro, foi aplicada por dois entrevistadores simultaneamente, e a intensidade da dor foi questionada com base na opinião do cuidador. Depois de 14 dias, sem intervenção de analgésico, a ferramenta foi aplicada novamente por um dos entrevistadores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A amostra teve predominância de mulheres, acima de 80 anos de idade, com demência de Alzheimer, apresentando dores musculoesqueléticas com intensidade moderada a grave. As propriedades psicométricas do instrumento demonstraram consistência interna adequada (coeficiente alfa de Cronbach de 0,827). A escala teve excelente reprodutibilidade, de acordo com o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse, e o instrumento demonstrou validade adequada.
  O Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate - Portuguese teve propriedades de medição adequadas para idosos com limitações de comunicação.
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karol Bezerra
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Thé
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Martins
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Gazoni
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Liausu
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Cherpak
authors.affiliation: Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabel Clasen
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Lorenzet
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário Nove de Julho, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Alves Dos
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edlene Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Nardes
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fânia Cristina Dos
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications; D001938:Brazil; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results