Neuropathic Pain Screening: Construct Validity in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.
Keesha Powell-Roach, Yingwei Yao, Miriam O Ezenwa and 5 others
PMID 30900520WHAT IT FOUND
The PR-NNP subscale of the PAIN Report It tool correlates with established neuropathic pain measures in adults with sickle cell disease.
It offers a valid, low-burden screening option to identify neuropathic pain components during routine pain assessment.
Key findings
01The PR-NNP score showed moderate correlation with the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) and weak correlation with the Leeds Assessment for Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS).
02PR-NNP and average pain intensity were significant independent predictors of neuropathic pain scores, whereas nociceptive word counts were not.
03Internal consistency for the PR-NNP subscale was adequate (Cronbach’s alpha .79).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study did not examine the sensitivity, specificity, or test-retest reliability of the PR-NNP. Participants were recruited from a single outpatient clinic, limiting generalizability. The interpretation of pain words by patients was not controlled for, which could affect scoring. The study validates the measure's construct but does not prove that using it improves patient outcomes or treatment selection.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the PR-NNP is a diagnostic tool for neuropathic pain. It is a screening measure that correlates with other tools, but its sensitivity and specificity were not tested, so a high score indicates possibility, not certainty, of neuropathic pain.