Psychometric evaluation of the arabic brief pain inventory in a sample of Lebanese cancer patients.

CONTEXT: Pain is a common complaint in oncology patients, and success in its treatment requires accurate assessment. Thus, assessment tools that are practical, culturally sensitive, and psychometrically sound are needed.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties and cultural sensitivity of the Arabic Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) in a Lebanese sample of cancer patients. The BPI measures the location and severity of pain; pain relief from treatment; and the pain's interference with life.

METHODS: The BPI was translated into Arabic. Its cultural sensitivity was evaluated by a panel of experts. This instrument and a visual analogue scale for pain were administered to a convenience sample of 75 adult oncology patients receiving pain treatment.

RESULTS: The experts' ratings indicated that the tool was culturally sensitive. The majority of the patient sample (88%) was married, male (78.7%), older than 46 years (56%), and with at least a secondary education (84%). The mean pain intensity rating was 5.3 ± 1.7, with interference ratings of 5.3 ± 2.0 to 7.0 ± 2.5. Most patients (78.4%) reported more than 50% pain relief with treatment. Cronbach alpha coefficients were 0.82 and 0.92 for the severity and interference items, respectively. Factor analysis yielded two factors, replicating the severity and interference dimensions. Correlations between the severity and interference items ranged between 0.25 and 0.57 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The findings support the validity, reliability, and cultural sensitivity of the Arabic BPI in Lebanese oncology patients. This tool can be used to assess pain and improve its management in this population.