A new tool, called the Behavior Pain Assessment Tool, is effective in evaluating pain in patients who are in critical condition and are not able to communicate, according to a study published in PAIN, the official publication of the International Association for the Study of Pain.
The tool is based on eight observable pain behaviors, including facial expressions, verbal responses and muscle responses.
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Researchers evaluated the tool during more than 4,800 procedures in 3,850 patients hospitalized in intensive care units in 28 countries. They also rated pain intensity and distress on a standard ten-point scale, in addition to using the tool.
The study shows that around two-thirds of patients were able to communicate their pain. The most commonly observed behavior was facial grimace. Other pain indicators included wincing, moaning, verbal complaints and clenched fists.
For patients who were rated at 3.5 or higher on the standard ten-point scale, the tool was effective in identifying severe levels of pain and distress, helping to determine patients who could benefit from opioid medications.