Cognitive considerations for adults with sickle cell disease completing the brief pain inventory

Accurate assessment of pain severity is important for caring for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The Brief Pain Inventory was developed to address limitations of previous pain-rating metrics and is available in a short form (BPI-SF). However, the BPI-SF is a self-report scale dependent on patient comprehension and interpretation of items.

To examine patterns in how patients completed the BPI-SF and determine whether incorrectly completing the BPI-SF was related to cognitive functioning or education.

A secondary analysis was completed using data from a study examining brain aging and cognitive impairment in SCD. T-tests were performed to examine whether neurocognitive function (immediate and delayed memory, visuospatial skills, attention, and language), word reading, and years of education differed based on correct BPI-SF completion.

The sample (n = 71) was 43.7% male, 98.6% African American or mixed race. Of that, 53.5% had sickle cell anemia, and the mean years of education was 13.6. Overall, 21.1% of participants (n = 15) incorrectly completed the BPI-SF pain severity items, and 57.7% completed the body map item incorrectly. Those who completed the severity items incorrectly had statistically significant differences in education. Group differences in neurocognitive function were no longer significant after familywise error rates were controlled for. Literacy was not associated with error rates.

Education level may influence patients' ability to correctly complete the BPI-SF. Findings suggest that careful consideration is warranted for use of the BPI in patients with SCD. Recommended revisions to the BPI include simplifying the language, shortening sentence length, and clearly specifying the timeframes.