MEASURING PAIN (CLINICAL INTERVIEW)

Question 1

Name 4 methods of measuring pain

Answer 1

1. Clinical interviews
2. MPQ (McGill Pain Questionnaire)
3. VAS (Visual Analogue Scale)
4. UAB (University of Alabama scale)

Question 2

What is a clinical interview? (simple)

Answer 2

• A semi-structured psychological assessment tool.

Question 3

What is a clinical interview (full definition)?

Answer 3

A clinical interview is a semi-structured psychological assessment conducted by a healthcare professional, which aims to gain understanding of a patients experience of pain. Thus, it explores characteristics of pain, and psychological and behavioural factors that may influence pain experience.

Question 4

What is the main aim of the clinical interview?

Answer 4

Gain understanding of the patients pain experience, and explore the psychological and behavioural factors that may influence pain experience.

Question 5

Outline the structure of the clinical interview.

Answer 5

• Activities
• Coping
• Think
• Upset
• People

ACT UP

Question 6

What type of questions does the clinical interview rely on for data collection?

Answer 6

(Range of) Open questions - producing qualitative data.

Question 7

What psychological factors could influence a patient’s pain experince?

Answer 7

• Mood distorders
• Cognitive distortions (catastrophising)
• Beliefs about the pain
  Can influence perception of pain, tolerance of pain and coping.

Question 8

What behavioural factors could influence pain perception?

Answer 8

Active coping stategies such as exercise, pacing, good sleep health can improve outcomes.

Question 8

Name 1 strength and 1 weakness of using the clinical interview to measure pain?

Answer 8

Strength= Collects rich body of qualitative data which facillitates a deeper understanding of the patients pain experience (which is a subjective, complex, multifaceted experince). Deeper, holistic understanding- leads to personalised treatment plans.

Weakness= Relies heavily on self-reported data, based on interpretation and opinion. Patients may downplay symptoms in order to not make a fuss or exaggerate for attention or malingering purposes (leads to inaccurate data)

Question 9

Define- activities

Answer 9

Questions regarding how pain affects patients daily life (eating, sleeping, relationships_

Question 10

Define- coping

Answer 10

Questions regarding how the patient copes with the pain (coping stategies)

Question 11

Define- ‘thinking’ aspect of the ACT UP structure

Answer 11

Questions regarding the patients beliefs and thoughts regarding the pain (e.g. will it ever get better).

Question 12

Define- ‘upset’ aspect of the ACT UP structure

Answer 12

Questions regarding the impact of the pain on the patients mood.

Question 13

Define- ‘people’ aspect of the ACT UP structure

Answer 13

Questions regarding how the people in the patient’s life respond to their pain.