PAIN Flashcards
(35 cards)
What was the aim of McLachlan et al ( 2004)
Treating Alanâs ( 32 yrs old) PLP using Mirror therapy
What did McLachlan et al show
This study showed mirror treatment to be an effective treatment for PLP in lower limbs, in much the same way as it is for upper limb pain.
What are the theories of pain
Specificity theory : Von Frey (1895), Gate control theory : Melzack & Wall (1965)
Specificity Theory
Von Frey (1895) proposed that pain is processed by a distinct sensory system. Specialized pain receptors detect harmful stimuli and send signals to the brain, which interprets them as pain. In response, the brain sends motor signals to remove the body from the source of painâfor example, pulling your hand away after touching something hot.
Gate control theory
Proposed in 1965 by Melzack and Wall, the gate control theory of pain explains how non-painful input can affect pain percentage. It suggests that non-painful input can close the âgatesâ to painful input in the spinal cordâs dorsal horn (area in the spinal cord where the gating mechanism occurs) , preventing pain signals from reaching the brain. When there is more activity from large nerve fibres (for touch and pressure) compared to small nerve fibres (for pain), pain sensation is reduced.Increased small fibre activity allows pain signals to be transmitted. Although the theory has limitations, it remains the most comprehensive explanation of both the physical and psychological aspects of pain perception.
what opens the gate according to the gate control theory
Bodily injury, Anxiety & depression, Attending to the injury & concentrating on the pain
what closes the gate according to the gate control theory
Analgesic Remedies e.g aspirin. Being in a âgoodâ mood. Concentrating on things other than the injury
what is the subjective measure of pain
Clinical interview
What is the psychometric measure of pain
McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ)
what is the MPQ
McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) is used to evaluate the intensity and quality of subjective pain. Patients select words that best describe their pain from a list of 78 options. Each word is assigned a severity value, and the patientâs total score ranges from 0 (no pain) to 78 (severe pain).
What are visual analouge scales used for
A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measures pain or other symptoms on a continuum from no pain to extreme pain, rather than categorising pain into discrete levels like mild, moderate, and severe.
Brudvik et al. Study Aim: Level of Agreement
To investigate the level of agreement of pain intensity when measured by the children, parents, and physicians.
Brudvik et al. Sample Size
243 children aged 3-15 years attended a Norwegian emergency department over a 17-day period.
Brudvik et al. Physiciansâ Demographics
There were 51 different physicians, 57% were men and 51% had children. Half had over five years of medical experience, and 30% had a speciality in family medicine.
Brudvik et al. Measurement Tool: Children (3-8 years)
Faces Pain Rating Scale-Revised (FPS-R), showing increasing pain levels.
Brudvik et al. Measurement Tool: Children (9-15 years)
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Coloured Analogue Scale (CAS).
Brudvik et al. Measurement Tool: Parents
Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) to assess childâs pain (0 to 10).
Brudvik et al. Measurement Tool: Physicians
Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) to assess childâs pain (0 to 10).
Brudvik et al. Results: Parentsâ Assessment
Mean pain was NRS = 4.8.
Brudvik et al. Agreement: Children and Physicians, Parents and Children
14.6%, 40.1%agreement on pain assessments.
Brudvik et al. Conclusion: Pain Estimation
Emergency department physicians significantly underestimated pain compared to parents and children.
Brudvik et al. Strength: Ecological Validity
Study was carried out in a real-life setting.
Brudvik et al. Strength: Sample Diversity
Large sample of children (243) and diverse physician backgrounds increased result validity.
Brudvik et al. Weakness: Assessment Bias
Doctors may adjust assessments because they know they are observed in a study.
