To Örebro University

Background: In order to effectively treat pain in the neonatal period and diminish its negative effects, pain must be recognized and properly assessed.                                       

Objective: a) Translate the revised version of Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP-R) (1, 2) scale into Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish languages. b) Test the content validity of each of the translated versions.                                                                          

Design: a) translation and cultural adaption following the ISPOR recommendations (3) and b) testing of content validity using cognitive interviews.                                                  Setting: Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, with cognitive debriefing and interviews at selected neonatal units (NU).                                                                                 Participants: In each country 5-10 nurses working in the NU will be included through purposeful sampling.                                                                                       

Procedures: Phase a): The following steps of the ISPOR protocol will be followed: 1)Preparation, 2) Forward translation, 3) Reconciliation, 4) Back translation, 5) Back translation review, 6) Harmonization, 7) Cognitive debriefing, 8) Review of cognitive debriefing results and finalization, 9) Proofreading, 10) Final report. Phase b): Interviews to gain an understanding concerning the respondents’ understanding of PIPP-R will be performed. Respondents’ first perform a pain assessment with the preliminary version of the scale while verbalizing their thought processes (Think Aloud) followed by an interview based on a semi-structured interview guide (Verbal Probing).                                                              

Measures: National data will be analyzed in accordance with a predefined problems matrix (4).                                                                                                                     

Results: None obtained yet. However; members of our research group have previous experience with the original PIPP scale from both research and clinical practice and have tested out the proposed translation methodology in a previous validation study (4).

Conclusions: Having well validated pain assessment measures available, is a necessary first step for efficient treatment of pain in vulnerable preterm infants. This collaboration among the Nordic countries will help to standardize and develop our pain management practices and contribute to further building the PEARL research network.