The measurement of pain, 1945–2000

Abstract

Three strands of activity can be identified in the history of pain measurement. The first, psychophysics, dates back to the nineteenth century and measures the effect of analgesia by quantifying the noxious stimulation required to elicit pain, as well as the maximum stimulation tolerated. The second uses standardized questionnaires for patients, developed to categorize pain according to its emotional impact, distribution, character, and other dimensions. The third asks patients to report on pain intensity using rating scales, and is used in clinical trials where analgesics are evaluated and results can be combined to influence clinical guidelines and protocols. Although all three strands have found a place in modern clinical practice or drug development, it is the reporting of pain by patients undergoing treatment using simple scales of intensity which has emerged as the crucial method by which analgesic therapies can now be evaluated and compared.

Adjustment to Life with Lung Cancer

“…Nevertheless, despite multiple guidelines regarding pain evaluation in cancer [15][16][17], there are a number of issues regarding the selection of a suitable method of pain treatment [18]. Similarly to the results of studies based on the BPCQ and conducted with the participation of other patient groups, e.g.…”

Estimated features from surface EMG of the lower limb correlate with the subjective sensation of pain.

“…Pain evaluation is important and necessary to establish the efficacy of analgesics and others therapies (Noble et al, 2005). This is generally done using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), which is a subjective scale for the quantification of pain (M. Averbuch, 2000).…”

Pasienters erfaringer med postoperativ smertebehandling ved hofte- og kneprotesekirurgi

“…Pasientens ansvar for å rapportere smerte ble vektlagt. Sykepleier informerte om smertekartleggingsverktøyet Numeric rating scale (NRS), en tallskala fra 0-10 som indikerer smertens styrke fra ingen til verst tenkelige smerte (30)(31)(32). Målet med postoperativ smertebehandling er at NRS-verdien ikke overstiger 3 (33).…”