Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2025
Multi-Modal Signals for Analyzing Pain Responses to Thermal and Electrical Stimuli
Published on: April 5, 2019
Cognitive Testing of PAIN Report It-Spanish in Monolingual Hispanic Adults
Marie L Suarez1, Rigoberto Angulo, Adam J Suarez
1Author Affiliations: College of Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago (Dr Suarez, Mr Angulo, and Mr Suarez); Institute on Aging, University of Florida (Dr Fullwood), Gainesville; College of Pharmacy, University of Florida (Dr Allen), Gainesville; Department of Population and Public Health Sciences and Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (Dr Stern), Los Angeles, CA; College of Pharmacy, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (Dr Flores-Rozas), Tallahassee; and College of Nursing, University of Florida (Dr Wilkie), Gainesville.
Background:
A Spanish language computerized tool would facilitate cancer pain assessment and management for the underserved population of native Spanish speakers who do not speak or lack command of the English language.
Objective:
Our aim was to identify Spanish-speaking adults' understanding and interpretation of the PAIN Report It-Spanish items and instructions as well as translation and technical issues.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional study, 20 mostly monolingual Spanish-speaking adults engaged in 1.5- to 2-hour, audio-recorded cognitive interviews as they completed the multidimensional PAIN Report It-Spanish. Three bilingual researchers conducted content data analysis.
Results:
Sixteen women and 4 men generally understood the translated text, but some had interpretation issues regarding the 0 to 10 number scale and understanding of the pain quality descriptors. Many participants found the program easy to complete, even when they had problems in some areas. Most participants welcomed the opportunity to report pain in their native language and appreciated research to help Hispanics with the management of their pain.
Conclusion:
PAIN Report It-Spanish is a valid tool to assess pain in a Spanish-speaking population. Improved orientation to the pain reporting tasks and alternate translations for several problematic/confusing Spanish words require additional study, especially among underrepresented black Hispanics and males.
Implication For Practice:
Findings indicate that Spanish-speaking adults (1) easily use a body outline to report their pain location, (2) may use a 0 to 10 scale differently than other individuals, and (3) may have a limited repertoire of pain quality and pattern descriptors.
