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The Gastrointestinal Pain Pointer: A Valid and Innovative Method to Assess Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Wendy A Henderson1, Bridgett Rahim-Williams, Kevin H Kim
1Wendy A. Henderson, PhD, MSN, CRNP, is Investigator & Chief, Digestive Disorder Unit, Biobehavioral Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland. Bridgett Rahim-Williams, PhD, MA, MPH, is Research Fellow, Digestive Disorder Unit, Biobehavioral Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland; and Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland. Kevin H. Kim, PhD, was with University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is now deceased. LeeAnne B. Sherwin, PhD, MS, CRNP, FNP-BC, is Postdoctoral Intramural Research Trainee Awardee Fellow, Digestive Disorder Unit, Biobehavioral Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland. Sarah K. Abey, PhD, BSN, is Lead Investigator and Nurse Specialist (Research), Digestive Disorder Unit, Biobehavioral Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland. Angela C. Martino, BSN, is Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Nicolaas H. Fourie, PhD, is Research Fellow, Digestive Disorder Unit, Biobehavioral Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland. Margaret M. Heitkemper, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Professor and Elizabeth Sterling Soule Endowed Chair, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, University of Washington, Seattle. Anthony P. Zuccolotto, BS, is President, Chief Executive Officer, and Principal Investigator, Psychological Software Tools, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Gastrointestinal Pain Pointer is a new, valid tool for measuring abdominal pain intensity in patients. This electronic device helps clinicians quantify real-time patient pain for better clinical care and research.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pain Management
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Abdominal pain affects about 20% of US individuals.
- Accurate measurement of abdominal pain intensity is crucial for effective management.
- Existing pain assessment tools may lack real-time quantification capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the validity of the Gastrointestinal Pain Pointer (GIPP) as a measure of abdominal pain intensity.
- To determine if the GIPP can accurately assess self-reported pain levels.
- To compare the GIPP with a standard pain assessment tool.
Main Methods:
- A prospective longitudinal time-series study design was used.
- 93 outpatients (irritable bowel syndrome patients and healthy controls) participated.
- The GIPP assessed pain intensity before and after a test solution over 5 hours, compared to the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire.
Main Results:
- The Gastrointestinal Pain Pointer demonstrated validity in assessing abdominal pain intensity.
- The tool provided real-time pain intensity measurements.
- Results showed good correlation with the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire.
Conclusions:
- The Gastrointestinal Pain Pointer is a novel and valid electronic tool for measuring abdominal pain intensity.
- This tool enhances clinicians' ability to quantify patient pain outcomes in real time.
- The GIPP supports both clinical care and research by improving pain assessment accuracy.
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