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. Conclusion The Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate – Portuguese had adequate measuring properties for use with elderly presenting limited communication.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thé,Karol Bezerra, Gazoni,Fernanda Martins, Cherpak,Guilherme Liausu, Lorenzet,Isabel Clasen, Santos,Luciana Alves dos, Nardes,Edlene Maria, Santos,Fânia Cristina dos
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein 2016
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-45082016000200008
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