Nonwearable actigraphy to assess changes in motor activity before and after rescue analgesia in terminally ill patients with cancer: A pilot study

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.