Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 17, 2026
A Protocol of Manual Tests to Measure Sensation and Pain in Humans
Published on: December 19, 2016
Validation and reliability of a scale for prolonged pain assessment in Brazilian neonates
Amanda Dos Santos Erhardt1, Mariana Bueno2, Taís Beppler Martins1
1Programa de Pós-graduação em Fisioterapia, Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
To evaluate the convergent construct validity, intra- and inter-rater reliability, and internal consistency of the COMFORTneo-Brazil scale.
To evaluate the convergent construct validity, intra- and inter-rater reliability, and internal consistency of the COMFORTneo-Brazil scale.
Study Design:
The study included neonates between 24 and 42 weeks of gestational age. Convergent construct validity was analyzed by comparing COMFORTneo-Brazil scores with those from the Échelle Douleur Inconfort Nouveau-Né (EDIN) scale. Two trained raters performed bedside evaluations and video assessments, separated by 10-14 days, to assess intra- and inter-rater reliability. Spearman's correlation, linear weighted kappa, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman plots, and Cronbach's alpha were used in the analysis.
Results:
One hundred and thirty-three evaluations were conducted. There was excellent convergent validity between COMFORTneo-Brazil and EDIN scores (rho = 0.929; p < 0.001). The COMFORTneo-Brazil demonstrated excellent intra- and inter-rater reliability (ICC > 0.9). Internal consistency was also high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.858).
Conclusions:
The COMFORTneo-Brazil is a valid and reliable tool for prolonged pain assessment in neonates.
