Development and evaluation of a multidimensional electronic pain diary for adolescents with arthritis.
Published: 2006
Language: eng
Number of pages: 266
ISBN-13: 9780494219911
Description: Aims. To evaluate the construct validity and feasibility of an electronic pain diary (e-Ouch) in adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).Methods. Two descriptive studies with repeated measures were conducted. In Study 1, 76 adolescents with arthritis recorded their pain three times a day for two-weeks using the e-Ouch. Similarly, In Study 2, 36 adolescents recorded their pain three times a day for one-week before and two-weeks after joint injections. Adolescents in both studies completed a battery of measures to determine the construct validity and feasibility of the e-Ouch.Conclusion/significance. These findings provide beginning evidence of the construct validity and feasibility of the e-Ouch in adolescents with JIA. The e-Ouch could be used as a template for chronic pain measurement in many chronic pediatric illnesses to improve chronic pain management and clinical outcomes in children.Results. Adolescents reported mild levels of pain intensity, unpleasantness, and interference as well as stiffness, and mild to moderate levels of fatigue. e-Ouch average weekly pain unpleasantness and interference scores were higher in adolescents with higher pain intensity scores. Adolescents reported significantly higher levels of pain intensity, unpleasantness, and interference during Week 1 compared to Week 2. Correlations between average weekly pain ratings on the e-Ouch and scores from: (a) recalled least, average and worst weekly pain, (b) health-related quality of life and pain coping, and (c) disease activity were as predicted. Valid estimates of average weekly pain ratings were obtained with three consecutive days of entries. Pain ratings were significantly lower following joint injections with the effect size in the low to moderate and moderate to high ranges at the first and second week post-injection, respectively. Compliance was 78% in Study 1, 73% in Study 2, highest in the morning, lowest after school, and significantly decreased over time. Compliance was not affected by age, sex, or technical difficulties. Adolescents found the diary acceptable and easy to use. The influence of age, sex, and disease subtype and severity on pain ratings was not supported. However, adolescents using emotion-focused pain coping reported higher levels of pain unpleasantness and interference compared to those who used less.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-01, Section: B, page: 0213.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Toronto, 2006.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.