1. The Suffering Pictogram: Measuring Suffering in Palliative Care.
- Author
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Beng, Tan Seng, Ann, Yee Hway, Guan, Ng Chong, Chin, Loh Ee, Loong, Lam Chee, Ying, Ng Tze, Teck, Teo Yong, Li, Hong Li, and Meng, Christopher Boey Chiong
- Subjects
QUALITY of life ,ACADEMIC medical centers ,STATISTICAL correlation ,INTERVIEWING ,RESEARCH methodology ,PALLIATIVE treatment ,STATISTICS ,SUFFERING ,DATA analysis ,RESEARCH methodology evaluation - Abstract
Background: Measuring suffering objectively presents a challenge because suffering is a unique and subjective experience. However, objective tools are of profound importance in the detection and management of suffering in clinical practice for optimal patient care. Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the psychometric properties of the Suffering Pictogram, a new suffering assessment instrument on a population of palliative care patients. Design and Setting: This is a validation study conducted at University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ninety one palliative care patients were recruited. Patients were interviewed with the Suffering Pictogram and FACIT-Sp. Results: The median completion time for the Suffering Pictogram was five minutes. The Suffering Pictogram showed good internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.836. The total scores of the Suffering Pictogram correlated strongly and negatively with FACIT-Sp total score (Spearman's Rho = −0.625, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Suffering Pictogram is a brief, reliable, and valid instrument to measure suffering in palliative care. The instrument can be used as a screening tool to detect suffering directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
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