Abstract
In the spring of 1997, an Eastern Michigan University nursing educator, a master’s nursing student, and a hospice clinical nursing director collaborated to develop a pain outcome instrument as a part of the student’s clinical practicum. The instrument was designed to describe and measure pain control of home hospice patients in preparation for fall accreditation of a home hospice program by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health-care Organizations. A chart audit of all on-call communications (n = 63 charts) by the educator and student supported the organization’s need to improve patients’ pain control. The collaborators reviewed the pain instrument literature, developed measurement instruments, and presented information to nurses at staff meetings for input and instrument revisions. A pilot study of the Home Hospice Patient Pain Assessment Instrument (HHPPAI) was conducted, the instrument was revised, and a second pilot was performed (n = 51 pain episodes). A description of those findings is presented. Further research needs to be conducted to examine instrument reliability and validity. The use of a pain outcome instrument, such as the HHPPAI, can improve patients’ pain control and, therefore, promote their quality of life.
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