Pain in children with intellectual disabilities: a randomized controlled trial evaluating caregiver knowledge measures.
Inadequate knowledge has contributed to inaccurate pain assessment and treatment for children with intellectual disabilities.


OBJECTIVE
Develop and evaluate pain knowledge measures and accompanying self-report ratings; determine their sensitivity to change.


METHODS
Young adults (n = 77; Mage= 18.89; standard deviation = 2.29; 67 females) were randomly assigned to one of two 'caring for children with intellectual disabilities' training programs (pain and visual supports). Participants completed pre-post-measures of pain knowledge and six self-report ratings of feasibility, confidence and perceived skill in pain assessment and treatment.


RESULTS
After controlling for pretraining scores, pain knowledge and self-report ratings were significantly higher following pain training versus visual support training.


CONCLUSIONS
These measures show promise for the evaluation of pain knowledge in secondary caregivers.
Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, 87 Trent Lane, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
Lara M
LM
Genik
Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, 87 Trent Lane, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
Chantale A
CA
Pomerleau
Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, 87 Trent Lane, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.|Children's Health Research Institute, 800 Commissioners Road, East London, ON, N6C 2V5, Canada.|Department of Paediatrics, Western University, 800 Commissioners Road, East London, ON, N6C 2V5, Canada.|Children's Chronic Pain Program, McMaster Children's Hospital, 1200 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3Z5, Canada.
C Meghan
CM
McMurtry
Psychology Services, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, 10230-111 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB, T5G 0B7, Canada.
Lynn M
LM
Breau
D000293:Adolescent; D017028:Caregivers; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
caregiver knowledge; children with intellectual disabilities; pain assessment and treatment