Nonwearable actigraphy to assess changes in motor activity before and after rescue analgesia in terminally ill patients with cancer: A pilot study. Issue 4 (14th October 2021) - Higami, Yoko
Abstract: Aims: This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of nonwearable actigraphy to assess changes in motor activity before and after rescue analgesic administration in terminally ill cancer patients. Background: Evaluating pain in terminally ill cancer patients is difficult; pain assessment tools are needed. Methods: This was an exploratory descriptive study conducted within a palliative care unit. A nonwearable actigraph was used to measure the activity score and movement index of terminally ill patients with weeks‐long prognosis and pain. The actigraph and medical data were integrated, and data were compared 6 h before and after rescue analgesic administration. Results: Among 10 patients (age: 75.8 ± 12.3 years; six men), we evaluated 28 pain episodes (mean activity score: 130.9 ± 180.5 counts per minute; movement index: 68.8%). When pain was relieved at night following rescue analgesic administration, activity score and movement index decreased significantly (6 h before vs. 6 h after analgesics, respectively: 113.1 to 69.7 counts per minute; 64.3% to 41.8%; both p < 0.0001). With no relief after rescue analgesic administration, activity score did not differ significantly 6 h before and after analgesics: 147.3 to 137.7 counts per minute. Conclusion: Pain in terminally ill cancer patients could be assessed using a nonwearable actigraph to capture motor activity and improve pain assessment. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Pain assessment in terminally ill patients with cancer relies on a subjective patient complaint as well as observations by caregivers, such as nurses and physicians. However, pain assessment can be challenging because some patients do not complain of pain, which contributes to poor pain control. Evaluating pain in terminally ill patients with cancer is difficult; therefore, developing pain assessment tools is required. What this paper adds? This is the first report to show that pain in patients who are in bed changes motor activity. Therefore, measuring motor activity could be used as an indication of pain. The implications of this paper: This study suggests that motor activity measurement with a sensing device could be used to indicate patient pain and improve pain assessment.