This is an updated, comprehensive review of the psychometric properties of behavioral pain assessment tools for use with noncommunicative, critically ill adults. Articles were searched in 5 health databases. A total of 106 articles were analyzed, including 54 recently published papers. Nine behavioral pain assessment tools developed for noncommunicative critically ill adults and 4 tools developed for other non-communicative populations were included. The scale development process, reliability, validity, feasibility, and clinical utility were analyzed using a 0 to 20 scoring system, and quality of evidence was also evaluated. The Behavioral Pain Scale, the Behavioral Pain Scale-Nonintubated, and the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool remain the tools with the strongest psychometric properties, with validation testing having been conducted in multiple countries and various languages. Other tools may be good alternatives, but additional research on them is necessary.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Winter 2019
Symposium: Pain Management Challenges in Acute and Critically Ill Patients|
December 15 2019
A Psychometric Analysis Update of Behavioral Pain Assessment Tools for Noncommunicative, Critically Ill Adults
Céline Gélinas, PhD, RN;
Céline Gélinas, PhD, RN
Céline Gélinas is Associate Professor, Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, 680 Sherbrooke West, Room 1838, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3A 2M7; and Researcher, Centre for Nursing Research and Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada (celine.gelinas@mcgill.ca).
Search for other works by this author on:
Aaron M. Joffe, DO;
Aaron M. Joffe, DO
Aaron M. Joffe is Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Search for other works by this author on:
Paul M. Szumita, PharmD;
Paul M. Szumita, PharmD
Paul M. Szumita is Clinical Pharmacy Practice Manager and Program Director - PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Practice Residency, Department of Pharmacy Services, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Search for other works by this author on:
Jean-Francois Payen, PhD, MD;
Jean-Francois Payen, PhD, MD
Jean-Francois Payen is Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, and Researcher, Inserm, U1216, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, Grenoble Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France.
Search for other works by this author on:
Mélanie Bérubé, PhD, RN;
Mélanie Bérubé, PhD, RN
Mélanie Bérubé is Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Université Laval; and Researcher, CHU de Québec, Université Laval Research Center (Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus), Québec City, Québec, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
Shiva Shahiri T., MScA, RN;
Shiva Shahiri T., MScA, RN
Shiva Shahiri T is a PhD Student, Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University.
Search for other works by this author on:
Madalina Boitor, PhD;
Madalina Boitor, PhD
Madalina Boitor is a Student, Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University.
Search for other works by this author on:
Gerald Chanques, PhD, MD;
Gerald Chanques, PhD, MD
Gerald Chanques is Professor, Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care Medicine, Montpellier University Hospital Saint Eloi, and PhyMedExp, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, 34295 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
Search for other works by this author on:
Kathleen A. Puntillo, PhD, RN
Kathleen A. Puntillo, PhD, RN
Kathleen A. Puntillo is Professor of Nursing Emeritus, University of California San Francisco School of Nursing, San Francisco, California.
Search for other works by this author on:
AACN Adv Crit Care (2019) 30 (4): 365–387.
Citation
Céline Gélinas, Aaron M. Joffe, Paul M. Szumita, Jean-Francois Payen, Mélanie Bérubé, Shiva Shahiri T., Madalina Boitor, Gerald Chanques, Kathleen A. Puntillo; A Psychometric Analysis Update of Behavioral Pain Assessment Tools for Noncommunicative, Critically Ill Adults. AACN Adv Crit Care 15 December 2019; 30 (4): 365–387. doi: https://doi.org/10.4037/aacnacc2019952
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
AACN Account
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionShort-term Access
Purchase short-term access on a pay-per-article or pay-per-issue basis.
$15 72 - hour single article access $30 7 - day full issue access
.svg?versionId=1314)