Abstract

CASTEL, A.; MIRO, J.  and  RULL, M.. BS-21 Pain scale: preliminary data regarding reliability and validity for the evaluation of pain in Geriatrics. Rev. Soc. Esp. Dolor [online]. 2007, vol.14, n.4, pp.274-283. ISSN 1134-8046.

Objectives: The aims of this study were: 1) to determine the main psy-chometric properties of the BS-21 in a sample of Spanish hospitalised elderly patients, and 2) to compare the grade of preference of the BS-21 in relation to another pain intensity rating scale widely used in older adults, the PPI of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Methods: The relative rate of incorrect responses, intraclass reliability, convergent validity, construct validity and grade of preference for each scale were evaluated. 112 older adults (mean age 76.9 years) with chronic pain, living in long term care facilities, participated in this study. Patients assessed current pain intensity with the BS-21 and the PPI twice a day for a period of seven consecutive days. In the afternoon, they also made a retrospective daily and weekly ratings of the worse, least and usual pain level. Results: Our results indicate that the BS-21 has a better intraclass reliability and construct validity, when compared to the BS-21. Moreover factor loading of the "pain intensity" construct, as well as the correlation between retrospective and actual pain ratings of pain are higher for the BS-21. On the other hand, the correlation between the scales is significant, suggesting a good convergent validity valué. The results in this study also show that the rate of incorrect responding was higher with the BS-21 (p<0.0001). The BS-21 is the less preferred scale by the participating patients (p<0.0001). Conclusions: The BS-21 seems to be a valid and reliable scale to measure the intensity of pain in Spanish speaking elderly individuáis, even with those with low or modérate cognitive impairment. However, more studies are needed to recommend the systematic use of the BS-21 in clinic practice.

Keywords : pain; assessment; elderly people.

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