Trial test of the "Itamikei", a pain meter and its ease of operation for clinical practice
10.2512/jspm.1.201
- VernacularTitle:簡便な操作で痛みの強さを記憶する痛み計の臨床試行
- Author:
Yoko Fukaya
;
Shoko Ando
;
Satomi Inagaki
;
Masayuki Miyazaki
;
Miyuki Nakamura
;
Miho Sawai
;
Yukihiro Noda
;
Midori Kamizato
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
pain measurement;
Numeric Rating Scale;
cancer pain;
measuring instrument;
electronic measurement
- From:Palliative Care Research
2006;1(1):201-205
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to develop the "Itamikei", a small machine which records the subjective level of pain between 0-10. In addition to testing it's ease of operation and usefulness in the clinical practice environment. The "Itamikei" is 23 cm x 6 cm x 2 cm. It weighs 160 grams. It has 11 buttons, relating to the 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Each time a button is pushed the level of pain is recorded, along with the time and date. Later, this data can be transferred to computer displayed graphically showing the patient's subjective level of pain. This research was a case study for using the "Itamikei". One in-patient at the university hospital who had cancer pain was asked to use the "Itamikei" for 14 days. A graph was printed out and given to both the patient and the medical staff.
The results suggest the following:
1. Using the 0-10 NRS the patient could easily express her level of pain.
2. Because the "Itamikei" was easy to operate, the patient found no difficulty in entering her level of pain.
3. In graph form the daily transition in pain levels can be easily analyzed, and a program for managing pain can be prepare.
