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Development of a new instrument for measuring the intensity of children's pain
S421 DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW INSTRUMENT FOR MEASURING THE INTENSITY OF CHILDREN'S PAIN. J.E. Beyer, School of Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, U.S.A. Establishing valid evidence of pain intensitywith Aim of Investigation: A new and develchildren has been a recurrent problem for investigators. oping instrument was created specifically for the purpose of gathering data The poster-like format confrom children about the amount of their pain. sists of a O-100 quantitative scale on the left side for older children, The latter and a qualitative scale on the right side for younger children. consists of six photographs of a child in pain, arranged vertically from The purpose of this "no hurt" to "the biggest hurt you can ever have." study was to examine the validity of this tool as a measure of the intensity of children's pain. Methodology: This descriptive investigation consisted of several Small samples of children who were asked to indicate the amount of their "hurt" Also, a sample of well children were asked to after surgical procedures. recall pain episodes and rate their intensity on both scales of the tool. The scores for children with major surgery were higher than Findings: Scores were highest immediately those for children with minor surgery. Scores on this instrument postoperatively and then gradually decreased. Qualitative correlated highly with Hester's instrument of pain intensity. and quantitative scores on this instrument were highly correlated. Conclusions: Findings from this study provide empirical evidence to support the construct validity of the instrument. Efforts to further test reliability and validity are in progress. It is anticipated that the instrument will prove to be useful to researchers as a reliable, valid, and generally available measure of pain intensity in children.
A ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-U? OF CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS TREATED IN AN 619 Poster OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL PROGRAM. B.S. Gottlieb*, J.F. Brodey, WedneSda T.S. Sewitch*, M.B. Shaw*, L.L.Weiner*, Pain Management and Cascade i 1 Behavioral Medicine Center, Farmington, CT 06032, U.S.A. Aim of Investigation: There has been no comprehensive long-term study of chronic pain patients treated in outpatient behavioral programs. This study sought to determine the extent to which treatment effects endure. Methods: Seventy-one patients were treated in an 8-10 week program. Prior to their admission, these individuals had seen a mean of 4.2 physicians over approximately 3 years. They had a mean of 1.4 surgeries and 83% were unemployed or retired due to pain. Treatment consisted of a comprehensive exercise program, behavioral strategies to effect reductions in pain behaviors (e.g., taking medication), and resumption of normative activity, (e.g., housework), and return to work or job retraining. Results: Forty-two percent successfully completed the program with -_ these results: 1) They had reduced their medication intake by a mean of 81.5%, 2) 79% had plans to receive retraining or to return to work, and 16% were actively working, and 3) 100% had accomplished all exercise goals. A self-report one-year follow-up revealed that of successful patients responding: 1) 88% reported that they were taking no prescription medications for pain; 2) 57% were gainfully employed and 12% were in training programs; 3) 69% reported that pain did not prevent them from enjoying either household, social, recreational, or sexual activity; 4) health-care utilization for the one year following treatment consisted of a mean of only 18% seeking treatment; and 5) 75% continued to maintain an exercise program. Conclusions: Treatment gains can be maintained and, in many cases, fur=mowing outpatient behavioral treatment. Approaches taken to improve the rate of treatment success are discussed.
A ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-U? OF CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS TREATED IN AN 619 Poster OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL PROGRAM. B.S. Gottlieb*, J.F. Brodey, WedneSda T.S. Sewitch*, M.B. Shaw*, L.L.Weiner*, Pain Management and Cascade i 1 Behavioral Medicine Center, Farmington, CT 06032, U.S.A. Aim of Investigation: There has been no comprehensive long-term study of chronic pain patients treated in outpatient behavioral programs. This study sought to determine the extent to which treatment effects endure. Methods: Seventy-one patients were treated in an 8-10 week program. Prior to their admission, these individuals had seen a mean of 4.2 physicians over approximately 3 years. They had a mean of 1.4 surgeries and 83% were unemployed or retired due to pain. Treatment consisted of a comprehensive exercise program, behavioral strategies to effect reductions in pain behaviors (e.g., taking medication), and resumption of normative activity, (e.g., housework), and return to work or job retraining. Results: Forty-two percent successfully completed the program with -_ these results: 1) They had reduced their medication intake by a mean of 81.5%, 2) 79% had plans to receive retraining or to return to work, and 16% were actively working, and 3) 100% had accomplished all exercise goals. A self-report one-year follow-up revealed that of successful patients responding: 1) 88% reported that they were taking no prescription medications for pain; 2) 57% were gainfully employed and 12% were in training programs; 3) 69% reported that pain did not prevent them from enjoying either household, social, recreational, or sexual activity; 4) health-care utilization for the one year following treatment consisted of a mean of only 18% seeking treatment; and 5) 75% continued to maintain an exercise program. Conclusions: Treatment gains can be maintained and, in many cases, fur=mowing outpatient behavioral treatment. Approaches taken to improve the rate of treatment success are discussed.