Psychometric Testing of the Norwegian Version of the Comfort Behavioral Scale

Psychometric Testing of the Norwegian Version of the Comfort Behavioral Scale

The purpose of this study is to establish reliability and validity of the Norwegian version of the Comfort behavioral scale.

Structured pain assessment is the foundation for the management of pain. Several different pain measurement tools exists, among them the Comfort behavioral scale (van Dijk, 2005), developed from the original Comfort scale (Ambuel, 1992). The psychometric properties of the Comfort scale have been tested in several studies, but so far no Norwegian version of the scale has been developed and tested. Neither has the scale been tested in spontaneously breathing children undergoing minor surgery. The aim of this study is to establish incipient psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the scale among children aged 0-3 years admitted for elective minor surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Younger than 3 years old at the time of surgery
• Day care patients admitted for minor elective surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pre-entry use of sedation and/or analgesics
• Neurological or other diseases or drugs (neuromuscular blockers) thet significantly influence motor activity, facial expression, cognition, or emotional state, ex. cerebral palsy, myopathy, severe mental retardation, severe hypotonia, neuromuscular disease