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Validation of a consciousness level scale for palliative care
F Gonçalves1, M J Bento, M Alvarenga
1Palliative Care Unit-Network, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal. ferrazg@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Palliative Medicine
|August 22, 2008
Summary
The Consciousness Scale for palliative care (CSPC) is a validated, easy-to-use tool for assessing patient consciousness. High reliability and strong correlations with other scales suggest its clinical utility in palliative care settings.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care Medicine
- Clinical Assessment Tools
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Assessing consciousness in palliative care is crucial for patient management and communication.
- Existing tools may have limitations in this specific population.
- A validated scale can improve objective measurement of consciousness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the Consciousness Scale for palliative care (CSPC).
- To assess the face validity, reliability, and construct validity of the CSPC.
Main Methods:
- Two-phase validation: face validity with 7 healthcare professionals, and reliability/construct validity with 4 investigators.
- Construct validity assessed by comparing CSPC with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).
- 176 observations from 38 patients were analyzed.
Main Results:
- High internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.99) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.99).
- Strong positive correlation between CSPC and VAS (0.94).
- Strong negative correlation between CSPC and GCS (-0.82).
Conclusions:
- The CSPC is a reliable and valid tool for assessing consciousness in palliative care.
- Its ease of use, minimal training requirement, and potential to improve communication enhance its clinical utility.
- The CSPC can be a valuable asset in both clinical practice and research environments.
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