The Corbett Pain Scale: A Multidimensional Pain Scale for Adult Intensive Care Patients

<p>There are no reliable tools that evaluate pain in adult critical care patients who cannot communicate as a result of sedation or illness. This was an observational study in which postoperative cardiothoracic intensive care patients were assessed for pain using both the newly devised Corbett Pain Scale (CPS) and the Numerical Pain Scale (NPS). The CPS was evaluated for content validity, criterion validity, construct validity, test re-test reliability and internal consistency. Thirteen male and seven female patients (n=20) were enrolled and underwent a maximum of five pain assessments each. The mean total scores of the CPS (.740, SD+1.03) and the NRS (.000, SD+1.00) were compared using a paired t-test. No significant differences were found. There was poor internal consistency (-.1225) and there was insignificant correlation between the scales. Pain measurement of sedated, non-communicative patients continues to be problematic.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health Related Sciences

Year dc:date.available

2006

Author dc:creator

• Corbett, Gina M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Chuck Biddle

• pain assessment
• critical care
• intensive care
• patient communication
• Anesthesiology
• Medical Specialties
• Medicine and Health Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• © The Author

Identifier

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/773

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-1772