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. 2023 Sep-Oct:53:146-152.
doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.06.025. Epub 2023 Aug 2.

Caregiving self-efficacy and pain assessment by family caregivers of people living with dementia

Jeffrey T Boon  1 , Keela Herr  2 , Lori Schirle  3 , Mary S Dietrich  3 , Cathy A Maxwell  4
Affiliations

Caregiving self-efficacy and pain assessment by family caregivers of people living with dementia

Jeffrey T Boon et al. Geriatr Nurs. 2023 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Like other older adults, people living with dementia (PLWD) experience pain, and the task of pain assessment often falls to family caregivers. In this study, we surveyed family caregivers of PLWD to determine the frequency with which they use different elements of pain assessment. We also determined correlations of family caregivers' characteristics (caregiving self-efficacy, relationship duration and type, mood, education level, and health literacy) with their use of the elements of pain assessment. Participants reported frequent use of many pain assessment elements. Statistically significant correlations were found between caregiving self-efficacy for obtaining respite and asking others about noticed behavior change (rho=.0.41, p=.007); and for responding to disruptive patient behaviors for multiple pain assessment elements including observing pain behaviors (rho=0.49, p<.001), asking others about noticed behavior change (rho=0.54, p<.001) and rechecking (rho=0.56, p<.001). Continued efforts are needed to describe pain assessments by family caregivers of PLWD.

Keywords: Caregiving self-efficacy; Dementia; Family caregiver; Pain assessment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest Jeffrey Boon reports financial support was provided by Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. Keela Herr reports a relationship with AARP that includes: funding grants. Keela Herr reports a relationship with Cornell University that includes: consulting or advisory.

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