Reliability and validity of the Acceptance Symptom Assessment Scale in assessing labour pain.

OBJECTIVE

to investigate the reliability and validity of the Acceptance Symptom Assessment Scale (ASAS) in assessing labour pain.

DESIGN

a test-retest approach was used to assess reliability and validity.

SETTING

labour ward with approximately 2,400 deliveries annually in western part of Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

forty-seven pregnant women in the latent or active phase of labour.

METHODS

a total of five pain assessments with both the ASAS and the VAS were conducted in three sessions.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

correlation between ASAS and VAS.

FINDINGS

both scales demonstrated high and significant test-retest correlations (r=0.83-0.92; p<0.001). High and significant alternative-form reliability correlations (r=0.76-0.93, p<0.001) were found between ASAS and VAS ratings at all five assessments. Construct validity was established when both the ASAS and the VAS identified a pain reduction (p<0.001) 2 hrs after birth, compared to the previous assessment. Over two-thirds of the women preferred the ASAS to the VAS, mainly (n=30) because the ASAS provided more choices relating to the pain experience, making it possible to label pain acceptable/unacceptable.

CONCLUSIONS

the ASAS is interchangeable with the VAS for assessing labour pain. Over two-thirds of the women preferred it to the VAS.