Comparison of Pain Score in Patients with Brain Disorders Using Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) and Nonverbal Pain Scale (NVPS)

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death, which ranges from mild and irreversible to severe and life-threatening injuries. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the pain score in patients with brain disorders using Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) and Nonverbal Pain Scale (NVPS). Methods: A descriptive comparative study was performed in Ilam province, Iran, in a group of head trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit who were intubated. One hundred twenty observations of nurses’ practice were performed. A purposive sampling method was utilized. The CPOT and NVPS assessed the pain, and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assessed the state of consciousness. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 software. Results: Patients’ mean ± SD age was 38.45 ± 4.2 years. The mean ± SD pain score on the CPOT before the procedure was 0.39 ± 0.49 in the facial expression dimension, 0.56 ± 0.49 in activity, 0.54 ± 0.50 in muscle tension, and 0.55 ± 0.49 in compatibility with the ventilator. The mean ± SD pain score on the NVPS before the procedure was 0.97 ± 0.20 in facial expression dimension, 0.94 ± 0.49 in activity, 0.95 ± 0.31 in guarding, 0.64 ± 0.49 in vital signs, and 0.92 ± 0.53 in excitement. Conclusions: Both CPOT and NVPS were effective in diagnosing patients’ pain, but the CPOT was more appropriate for diagnosing pain in intubated patients.