8.3.2

Question 1

Subjective Measures of Pain

Answer 1

Subjective measures, like self-reports, are crucial for understanding the severity and daily impact of a patient’s pain.

Question 2

Clinical Interviews for Chronic Pain

Answer 2

Clinical interviews are used to assess chronic pain, providing insights into a patient’s emotional state and their beliefs about the causes of pain.

Question 3

Psychometric Tests in Clinical Interviews

Answer 3

Clinical interviews may use psychometric tests to assess pain type, intensity, emotional distress, and a patient’s daily functioning.

Question 4

Strength of Clinical Interviews

Answer 4

A strength of clinical interviews is their ability to allow tailored treatment plans, improving patient adherence and treatment success.

Question 5

Limitations of Clinical Interviews

Answer 5

A limitation of clinical interviews is that they rely on effective communication and trust between the patient and physician, which may not be present in all cases.

Question 6

McGill Pain Questionnaire Overview

Answer 6

The McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), created by Melzack and Torgerson (1971), categorizes pain descriptions into sensory, affective, evaluative, and miscellaneous aspects.

Question 7

McGill Pain Questionnaire Categories

Answer 7

The MPQ is divided into four categories: sensory (1–10), affective (11–15), evaluative (16), and miscellaneous (17–20).

Question 8

Pain Rating Index (PRI)

Answer 8

The Pain Rating Index (PRI) is a key result measurement in the MPQ. A high score indicates high pain levels.

Question 9

MPQ Measurement of Pain

Answer 9

The MPQ uses the number of words chosen by patients and their present pain intensity (PPI) as key measures of pain severity.

Question 10

Strengths of MPQ

Answer 10

The MPQ is reliable, with studies like Ferraz (1990) showing a high correlation between test and retest results (r = +0.96).

Question 11

Validity of MPQ

Answer 11

The MPQ is valid; for instance, Byrne et al. (1982) found that MPQ results for back pain patients aligned with previous studies.

Question 12

Limitations of MPQ

Answer 12

One limitation of the MPQ is that quantitative pain measures may not accurately capture a patient’s full experience of pain, as descriptive words may not fit their perception.

Question 13

Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Overview

Answer 13

The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measures pain along a continuum, allowing patients to indicate the intensity of their pain using pictures or a line.

Question 14

Strengths of VAS

Answer 14

The VAS is quick, easy to use, and offers a valid representation of pain intensity along a continuum without gaps.

Question 15

Limitations of VAS

Answer 15

A limitation of the VAS is that it doesn’t allow patients to elaborate on the pain’s impact or their experience, offering only a basic measurement of pain.

Question 16

UAB Pain Behaviour Scale Overview

Answer 16

The UAB Pain Behaviour Scale measures observable pain behaviors, both verbal and non-verbal, over a three-week period using a three-point scale.

Question 17

Strengths of UAB Pain Behaviour Scale

Answer 17

The UAB scale is quick to score and easy to use. It can be used with large groups, including patients unable to complete self-reports.

Question 18

Limitations of UAB Pain Behaviour Scale

Answer 18

A limitation of the UAB scale is that it depends on the observer’s accuracy in recording pain behaviors and may not correlate well with self-reports.

Question 19

Brudvik et al. (2016) Study Context

Answer 19

Brudvik et al. (2016) studied pain estimation differences between doctors, parents, and children, showing doctors often underestimate children’s pain.

Question 20

Brudvik et al. (2016) Study Aims

Answer 20

The study aimed to explore the relationship between children’s self-reported pain and ratings by parents and doctors, as well as the impact on pain relief administration.

Question 21

Brudvik et al. (2016) Research Method

Answer 21

Brudvik et al. (2016) used a field study with a correlational design, using questionnaires to assess children’s self-reported pain and pain ratings from parents and doctors.

Question 22

Sample in Brudvik et al. (2016) Study

Answer 22

The study sample consisted of 243 pediatric patients aged 3–15 years, their parents, and 51 doctors.

Question 23

Procedure in Brudvik et al. (2016) Study

Answer 23

Participants completed pain scales and questionnaires. Doctors and parents provided pain ratings, while the child’s medical condition was recorded.

Question 24

Ethical Considerations in Brudvik et al. (2016) Study

Answer 24

Parents gave written consent, and extra support was provided to children if needed. Parents were informed of their right to withdraw at any time.

Question 25

Brudvik et al. (2016) Results

Answer 25

Only 42% of children with severe pain were given pain relief, and only 14.3% of children who rated their pain as severe were administered medication.

Question 26

Brudvik et al. (2016) Conclusion

Answer 26

The study concluded that doctors significantly underestimate pain in children, and suggested that parental reports should be taken more seriously in pain assessment.

Question 27

Reliability of MPQ

Answer 27

The MPQ has been standardized and shown to have high reliability, such as in Ferraz's (1990) test-retest analysis.

Question 28

Generalisability of Brudvik et al. (2016) Study

Answer 28

Brudvik et al.'s study had limited generalisability since it was conducted in a single Norwegian emergency department, and doctors there did not specialize in pediatric care.

Question 29

Validity of MPQ

Answer 29

The MPQ is considered valid. For example, Byrne et al. (1982) validated it by comparing it with previous research on back pain patients and finding similar results.

Question 30

Brudvik et al. (2016) Validity

Answer 30

Brudvik et al.'s study had good ecological validity because it took place in a real-world hospital setting, where doctors followed their usual routines.

Question 31

Brudvik et al. (2016) Bias in Reporting

Answer 31

In Brudvik et al., the children's self-reports could have been influenced by their parents' reactions, as they were often aware of each other's ratings.

Question 32

Idiographic vs. Nomothetic in Brudvik et al. (2016)

Answer 32

Brudvik et al. (2016) employed a nomothetic approach, using statistical analysis of pain ratings, whereas a more idiographic approach could have explored individual pain experiences.

Question 33

Application to Paediatric Care

Answer 33

The findings of Brudvik et al. (2016) suggest that paediatric care in Norway should involve more attention to children's and parents’ pain reports to ensure more accurate pain management.

Question 34

Training Implications from Brudvik et al. (2016)

Answer 34

The study suggests that doctors should receive training to better assess children's pain, as well as recognize the individual differences in pain perception and response to treatment.

Question 35

Pain and Recovery Time

Answer 35

Pain perception is linked to recovery time and long-term issues such as hypersensitivity, making accurate pain assessment crucial for timely and effective treatment.

Question 36

UAB Pain Behaviour Scale Strengths

Answer 36

The UAB scale is advantageous for large patient populations, including those unable to self-report, and is easy to use with quick scoring.

Question 37

UAB Pain Behaviour Scale Weaknesses

Answer 37

However, the UAB scale relies heavily on the observer's subjective interpretation and lacks a strong correlation with self-reported pain measures.

Question 38

Strengths of Visual Analogue Scale

Answer 38

VAS is simple, efficient, and designed to display pain intensity on a continuum, making it easier for patients to represent their pain accurately.

Question 39

Limitations of Visual Analogue Scale

Answer 39

VAS doesn’t allow patients to elaborate on their pain, offering only a basic measurement, which may not fully represent their pain experience.

Question 40

McGill Pain Questionnaire Reliability

Answer 40

The McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) is considered reliable due to high correlation coefficients in test-retest studies like Ferraz's (1990).

Question 41

Psychometric Measures in Clinical Pain Assessment

Answer 41

Psychometric measures, like the McGill Pain Questionnaire and VAS, help assess pain intensity and impact, aiding in personalized treatment planning.

Question 42

Pain Rating Systems for Clinical Use

Answer 42

Both psychometric scales (like MPQ) and behavioral scales (like UAB) are important tools in clinical settings for assessing the subjective experience of pain.

Question 43

Pain Assessment and Medication Administration

Answer 43

In Brudvik et al. (2016), the underestimation of children's pain led to delayed and insufficient administration of pain relief medication.

Question 44

Pain Assessment Across Age Groups

Answer 44

The underestimation of pain is a concern, particularly in children, as evidenced by studies showing doctors giving less pain medication to children than adults.

Question 45

Strengths of Psychometric Pain Scales

Answer 45

Psychometric scales like the MPQ and VAS provide reliable and valid data for clinicians, helping to assess pain severity more effectively.