Question

Describe   each   component   of   a   comprehensive   pain   assessment

Answer 1

Comprehensive pain assessment utilizes an integrated, multidisciplinary team approach that facilitates superior pain care with expert and highly trained professionals.

Pain assessment and successful pain management strategies are important because controlled pain improves patients comfort, physical and psychological functions.

Components of pain assessment includes :

1)History and physical assessment-

• it includes history of pain onset and physical examination of system related to pain.
• It should include site of pain, musculoskeletal system, neurological system.
• It also include patients self report of pain, patient behavior, onset and duration of pain, location and quality of pain, intensity of pain and aggravating and relieving factors.
• Medication or disease history
• History of pain relief measures used earlier.

2) Functional and psychosocial assessment -

• Patients behavior while performing functional tasks
• Impact of pain on patients cognitive ability
• Report of patients prior level of function
• Impact of pain on daily life routine
• Patients goal for pain management
• Impact on quality of life
• History of pain in relation to depression, abuse, alcohol use

3) Multidimensional assessment -

• It is done in patients who have chronic pain,mixed pain, or multiple disease process.
• Brief pain inventory : provides patient input in description of pain and effects
• McGill pain questionnaire : patients can use description for their pain,about intensity and experience.