Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2025
Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex
Published on: July 4, 2018
Development of an Acute Pain Assessment Tool for Patients in Post-anesthesia Care Units
Kyoungsook Kim1, Suna Choi1, Myouyun Park1
1From the Department of Nursing, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Post-operative pain is a common form of acute pain. Objective pain assessment in post-anesthesia care units after surgery is useful regardless of the patient's condition.
Aims:
This study aimed to develop and evaluate an acute pain assessment tool for patients in post-anesthesia care units.
Design:
This was a cross-sectional observational study comprising two stages: scale development and psychometric evaluation.
Settings:
.
Participants/Subjects:
.
Methods:
Scale items were developed based on a literature review and content validity by experts. The validity and interrater reliability of the pain scale were evaluated using data from 218 patients admitted to the post-anesthesia care unit at a university hospital. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to identify the sensitivity and specificity for determining the cutoff point for acute pain.
Results:
We developed an objective acute pain scale, called the APA5, which ranges from 0-10 and comprises behavioral (facial and verbal expressions and body movement) and physiological (changes in heart rate and blood pressure) responses. The APA5 is valid and reliable for assessing acute pain in the recovery room. Sensitivity and specificity were acceptable when the cutoff was 2 out of 10 points.
Conclusions:
The APA5 is an easy and simple tool for measuring pain in patients in post-anesthesia care units who have difficulties with self-reporting.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
01:30Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
01:25Assessment of apical radial pulse
The A-R pulse assessment involves simultaneous evaluation of the apical and radial pulses. When the apical and radial pulse rates vary, this assessment helps identify a pulse deficit.
Pre-Procedural Preparation
01:21Methods of Documentation III: PIE
01:14SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...