Scottish care professionals report positive perceptions of PainChek^® for dementia pain assessment

1​1 February 2026

Digital pain assessment tool PainChek^®has been shown to be highly regarded by social care staff working with people living with dementia in Scottish care homes, according to newly published, independent research by Edinburgh Napier University.

Published in BMC Geriatrics, the study, ‘Care professionals’ perceptions of the use of PainChek^® among people living with dementia in Scotland,’ surveyed care home professionals experienced in using PainChek^® to assess pain in individuals with living with dementia. The findings highlight strong support for PainChek^® as an effective and user-friendly digital solution that enhances pain assessment and management, particularly for those with impaired communication and cognition.

Care staff reported improved decision-making, more accurate assessments, and a greater capacity to provide person-centered care. Reported facilitators for the adoption and implementation of PainChek^® included strong management and technical support, comprehensive training, and resources.

Key findings included:

• 82.1% of respondents felt that PainChek^® is an effective digital solution for assessing and managing pain
• 78.6% perceived that it is a good way to understand how much pain people who are unable to communicate verbally experience
• Three-quarters (75%) felt that it helped them to make informed decisions about pain management
• 77.8% felt that the use of PainChek^® could help to reduce the chances of a person’s pain going unnoticed
• 78% felt that it is user-friendly and easy to integrate into everyday work
• Almost all (92.8%) respondents felt that the layout of PainChek^® is efficient and takes minimal effort to navigate
• 92.6% reported that the training provided for PainChek enabled them to use it with confidence

The research also highlighted PainChek^®’s compatibility with national digital strategies and electronic health records, which it says could enhance personalised pain management for individuals living with dementia across Scotland. It recommends continued engagement with staff on how PainChek^® can boost efficiency and improve person-centered care to encourage the continued use of the digital medical device.

Commenting on the research, PainChek^®’s Tandeep Gill said: “We welcome this research from Edinburgh Napier University, supported by the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre and the Care Inspectorate. With dementia cases expected to double by 2040 and one-third of those affected living in residential care, it is imperative that care staff are equipped with effective tools to support wellbeing and prevent unnecessary deaths.

“Dementia remains one of Scotland's leading causes of death, often due to late or missed diagnoses caused by communication barriers. Early pain identification can serve as a vital indicator of persons deterioration, with up to 80% of cognitive decline linked to untreated pain. Historical pain assessment tools such as the Abbey Pain Scale rely on clinical observations of behaviours. They are also solely assessment tools and not medical grade. Consequently, they are inadequate, time-consuming, underused, poorly documented, and unreliable. Evidence demonstrates that PainChek^® as a cleared medical device increases pain assessment rates significantly and surpasses traditional methods. The Care Inspectorate found there were no documented baseline pain assessments across 21 services prior to this project. The following 6 months saw over 10,000 pain assessments completed with PainChek^®.

"Equipping carers with a medical device that can be embedded into their current working practices also leads to fewer falls, reduced malnutrition, and greater independence for residents, empowering the carers to promote the wellbeing of those living with dementia."

Dr Isabel Nyangu,Lecturer in Public Health and Epidemiology,Programme Lead - Master of Public Health (FT), School of Health and Social Care,Edinburgh Napier University, said: "Our evaluation research highlights a potential shift in how we can support one of the most vulnerable populations. The study results indicate that by integrating PainChek^® into daily practice, we can provide care professionals with a 'digital voice' for their residents, thereby moving towards a standard of care that is objective, proactive, and most importantly deeply person-centred."

The Care Inspectorate has been using PainChek^® since 2024, with its use evaluated in an independent study conducted by Edinburgh Napier University. Over the initial six-month data collection period, PainChek^® was linked to a 42% reduction in falls as well as a 42% reduction in stress and distress. As a result of the pilot, the Care Inspectorate included PainChek^® in its Quality Improvement Plan for 2023/24, positioning the tool as a key technology in its three-year quality improvement strategy.

Nicholas Cronin, Senior Improvement Adviser at the Care Inspectorate said: “As part of our scrutiny and improvement work, the Care Inspectorate tested the use of PainChek^® in 21 care settings in Scotland. This work was focused on learning and improvement, highlighting that having a structured digital tool to consider pain can support improvements in the quality of care and personal outcomes, particularly for people who find it difficult to communicate their pain.”

Tandeep added: “These research findings reinforce our commitment to supporting frontline care teams with tools that reliably enhance pain detection and management for people living with dementia - one of the most vulnerable populations in our society. The overwhelmingly positive perceptions from Scottish care professionals are testament to PainChek^®’s practical value in real-world settings and will support broader adoption across Scotland and beyond.”

For more information, visit: https://painchek.com