Author(s):
Campos, Diana Catarina Ferreira de 
; Batalha, Luís Manuel da Cunha ; Fernandes, Ananda Maria ; Gonçalves, Ana Maria Pacheco Mendes Perdigão Costa
Date: 2013
Origin: Repositório Científico da Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra
Subject(s): nursing; pain; Child; Cancer;
Description
Background: The Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool (APPT) assesses pain location, intensity and quality (list of pain descriptors). Several studies defend its inclusion in pain assessment in cancer children .
Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the APPT.
Methods: Methodological study conducted in two pediatric oncologic units. We included 100 portuguese cancer children aged between 8-17 yo. Patients reported their present pain or their last pain episode.
Outcome measures: Demographic data, number of pain sites and surface area, pain intensity and quality scores (total, sensory, evaluative, affective and temporal) were obtained. Psychometric properties were established by calculating the correlation between location, intensity and quality scores (Spearman test) and by testing the differences between age groups (8-12 yo and 13-17yo) and sex (Mann-Whitney U test). Construct validity of the theoretically organized dimensions was assessed using optimal scaling method.
Results: There is a positive relationship between number of pain sites and pain area and total number of descriptors (rs=0,21, p=0,02; rs=0,28, p=0,002, respectively) and between intensity and total number of descriptors (rs=0,34, p=0,00). The five quality scores were positive correlated to each other (rs=0,39 to 0,89, p=0,00). Pain location, intensity and quality were not significantly different between 8-12 yo and 13-17 yo and boys and girls. Factor analysis was suggestive for 4-factor solution but the data did not fit the predicted model .
Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the APPT suggest that the questionnaire may be used to assess pain in Portuguese cancer children.
