Can the Northwick Park Dependency Scale be translated to a Barthel Index?

Objective: to develop and test an algorithm for conversion of the Northwick Park Dependency Scale (NPDS) to a Barthel Index.

Design And Setting: conversion criteria were developed to derive a Barthel Index from NPDS data. The criteria were then applied in two community-based datasets of NPDS and Barthel scores, gathered from carers/patients via postal questionnaires.

Screening for pain in patients with cognitive and communication difficulties: evaluation of the SPIN-screen.

ABSTRACT - The scale of pain intensity (SPIN)-screen is a simple visual tool for the screening and measurement of pain intensity, which is designed to be accessible by patients with cognitive and communication problems. It was applied prospectively in a consecutive cohort of 79 patients admitted to a tertiary specialist neurorehabilitation unit, of which 86% had significant cognitive/communicative disabilities. In all, 71 patients (90%) responded to the SPIN.