The Suffering Pictogram: Measuring Suffering in Palliative Care.

Beng, Tan Seng; Ann, Yee Hway; Guan, Ng Chong; Chin, Loh Ee; Loong, Lam Chee; Ying, Ng Tze; Teck, Teo Yong; Li, Hong Li et al. · J Palliat Med · 2017

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Abstract

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. 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. 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. 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). 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.

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