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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.
Abstract:
Abdominal pain is a chronic condition experienced by approximately 20% of individuals in the United States. The purpose of the study was to assess the validity of the Gastrointestinal Pain Pointer as a measure of abdominal pain intensity. A prospective longitudinal time-series study design was utilized. The sample included 93 outpatients (58.1% female). Participants met Rome III criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (n = 32) or were healthy controls (n = 61). The Gastrointestinal Pain Pointer, a new electronic pain assessment tool, was used to assess self-reported abdominal pain intensity among participants before and after ingestion of an intestinal permeability test solution across 11 time points over a 5-hour time period. The results were compared with the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. The Gastrointestinal Pain Pointer was found to be valid in the assessment of abdominal pain intensity. The tool is a novel and valid measure of abdominal pain intensity that enhances the ability for clinicians to better quantify, in real time, patient-related pain outcomes for both clinical care and research.
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