RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Development and initial validation of the EDIN scale, a new tool for assessing prolonged pain in preterm infants
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP F36
OP F41
DO 10.1136/fn.85.1.F36
VO 85
IS 1
A1 T Debillon
A1 V Zupan
A1 N Ravault
A1 J-F Magny
A1 M Dehan
YR 2001
UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/85/1/F36.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE To develop and validate a scale suitable for use in clinical practice as a tool for assessing prolonged pain in premature infants.METHODS Pain indicators identified by observation of preterm infants and selected by a panel of experts were used to develop the EDIN scale (Échelle Douleur Inconfort Nouveau-Né, neonatal pain and discomfort scale). A cohort of preterm infants was studied prospectively to determine construct validity, inter-rater reliability, and internal consistency of the scale.RESULTS The EDIN scale uses five behavioural indicators of prolonged pain: facial activity, body movements, quality of sleep, quality of contact with nurses, and consolability. The validation study included 76 preterm infants with a mean gestational age of 31.5 weeks. Inter-rater reliability was acceptable, with a κ coefficient range of 0.59–0.74. Internal consistency was high: Cronbach's α coefficients calculated after deleting each item ranged from 0.86 to 0.94. To establish construct validity, EDIN scores in two extreme situations (pain and no pain) were compared, and a significant difference was observed.CONCLUSIONS The validation data suggest that the EDIN is appropriate for assessing prolonged pain in preterm infants. Further studies are warranted to obtain further evidence of construct validity by comparing scores in less extreme situations.