Completed Research Project
Testing pain assessment tools for older people with cognitive impairment: A comparison of three pain assessment tools.
Investigators: Auret K, Moffat P, Toye C.
Funding: Hollywood Private Hospital ($10,000)
Administering institution: Edith Cowan University
In a prospective case study, outcomes of pain assessment in elderly residents with dementia were compared using a standardized physician’s examination versus observational pain scales. Twenty-two elderly nursing home residents with moderate to severe dementia were included; their mean age was 86 years. Findings of this pilot work suggest that a physician’s examination may be a more sensitive method to determine pain in those with moderate to severe dementia than the use of observational pain tools.
