Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
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Psychometric Evaluation of the Arabic Brief Pain Inventory in
a Sample of Lebanese Cancer Clients
Suha Ballout, RN BSN
Clinical Educator
Nursing Services
American University of Beirut Medical Center
Beirut, Lebanon
Samar Noureddine, PhD, RN
Associate Professor
MSN Program Coordinator
School of Nursing
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
Adjunct faculty, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Background
Pain is a frequently encountered phenomenon by nurses, especially
in oncology clients; 50% of those receiving cancer treatment report
pain, the number increasing to 70% in the advanced stages of the
disease (Carrier-Kohlman, Lindsey & West 2003). Studies
documented suboptimal pain management in cancer clients, which
negatively affects their quality of life. In light of the high prevalence
of pain in cancer clients, its reported under-treatment and
consequences on patient well being, the importance of pain
assessment as an essential step in its management becomes
paramount for improving patient care. Adequate pain assessment
requires clinically appropriate and culturally sensitive tools that are
valid and reliable (Miaskowski 2004). The Cancer Relief Unit of the
World Health Organization selected the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) as
an index of the efficiency of cancer pain relief protocols. The BPI
was validated in many cultures (McGuire, Kim, & Lang 2004).
Study aim and Research Questions
The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties
of the Arabic Brief Pain Inventory in a Lebanese sample of cancer
clients. Research questions were:
1. Is the Arabic BPI culturally sensitive to the Lebanese cancer
patient population?
2. Is the Arabic BPI internally consistent in a Lebanese cancer
patient sample?
3. Do the dimensions obtained in other versions of the BPI
replicate in a Lebanese sample of cancer clients?
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