Evaluating the Effectiveness of Pain Assessment Tools Used by Nurses in Palliative Care Units

Posted: Dec 19, 2020

• Rachel Reed
• Ryan Long
• Scarlett Turner

Abstract

Pain assessment represents a cornerstone of quality palliative care, yet the effectiveness of various assessment tools remains inadequately understood within the complex context of end-of-life care. Traditional approaches to evaluating pain assessment tools have predominantly emphasized quantitative metrics such as reliability, validity, and inter-rater agreement, while largely overlooking the multidimensional nature of pain assessment as both a clinical and interpersonal process. This study addresses this significant gap by introducing a comprehensive framework that evaluates pain assessment effectiveness through multiple interconnected dimensions, including clinical accuracy, communication quality, documentation utility, and therapeutic relationship impact. The palliative care environment presents unique challenges for pain assessment, including fluctuating consciousness levels, communication barriers, and the complex nature of suffering at the end of life. Current literature reveals that nurses frequently utilize multiple assessment tools interchangeably, yet evidence regarding the contextual appropriateness of different tools remains limited. This research responds to the critical need for a more nuanced understanding of how assessment tool selection influences not only pain management outcomes but also the quality of patient-caregiver interactions and the overall experience of care.