SELF-REPORT VERSUS NURSE ASSESSMENT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PEDIATRIC PAIN: AN ARTICLE SUMMARY
Colwell, Clark, and Perkins (1996, pp. 375-381) compared the accuracy of child patient self-report of pain with nurse assessment of child patient pain in post-operative environments. The conduct of this study was justified by the authors on the basis of consistent reports in the relevant literature that the under treatment of pain among post-operative child patients is prevalent.
A convenience sample consisting of 44 nurses and 124 post-operative patients was selected for the study reported in this article (Colwell, Clark, and Perkins, 1996, pp. 375-381). The child patients ranged in age from five years old to 17 years old. The sample was selected from among patients and nurses at a 34-bed surgical unit in a private children's hospital in the Southwest.
Self-reports of experienced post-operative pain intensity were obtained from each of the 124 child patients (Colwell, Clark, and Perkins, 1996, pp. 375-381). The nurses were assigned through the application of random procedures to two groupsùa control group and experimental group. Nurses assigned to the control group were asked to assessed the intensity of pain experienced by child patients by using their customary method of assessment. Nurses assigned to the experimental group were asked to assess the intensity of pain experienced by child patients by applying the Analog Chromatic Continuous Scale and the McGrath Affective Faces Scale.
Child patient self-reports of experienced pain intensity and the assessments of child patient experienced pain intensity made by the two groups of nurses included in the research sample were compared through the application of Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis and Spearman Rank-Difference Correlation Coefficient Analysis. Correlation analysis is quite similar to regression analysis in major portions of the calculations. In fact, the...