The Development of Pain Assessment for Chronic Pain

Abstract

The purpose of this research and development study was to develop the SPAASMS Score for chronic pain Thai version and to test its reliability and internal validity using the 4 steps of Jaranit’s¹ developmental process: (1) development, (2) quality assessment, (3) attribute evaluation, and (4) conclusion and deployment. The sample were selected according to the criteria and consisted of 60 professional nurses and 60 chronic pain or late-stage pain patients from the medical, surgical and gynecological units, Chonburi Hospital. The research tool included the chronic pain assessment form. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, construct validity, correlation, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.

                The results revealed that the structural validity of the chronic pain assessment form was 1. The majority of the patients was female (80%) and reported having cancer pain and chronic pain at 100% and 64%, respectively. The reliability of the chronic pain assessment in the patients was at the moderate level (alpha coefficient 0.698). The challenges found in the professional nurses including understanding and confidence of using chronic pain assessment form. After adjusted and deployed, the repeated measurement of the chronic pain assessment form was at a very good level (r = 0.943) and the internal validity was at a fair level (r = 0.718) yielding statistical significance at p < .0001. Therefore, the developed chronic pain assessment form, Thai version, was suitable for the Thai people due to rapid assessment in all aspects including a very good level of validity and a good level of reliability.