A review and critique of assessment instruments for patients with persistent pain

Karen Grimmer-Somers1, Nic Vipond2, Saravana Kumar1, Gillian Hall21Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia, Australia; 2Accident Compensation Corporation, Wellington, New Zealand Background: Early identification of individuals at risk of developing persistent pain is importa...

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Main Authors: Karen Grimmer-Somers, Nic Vipond, Saravana Kumar, Gillian Hall
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2009-03-01
Series:Journal of Pain Research
Online Access:http://www.dovepress.com/a-review-and-critique-of-assessment-instruments-for-patients-with-pers-a2932
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spelling doaj-28a3952582f7422d8fb5be60cfe600f72020-11-24T22:42:32ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902009-03-012009default2147A review and critique of assessment instruments for patients with persistent painKaren Grimmer-SomersNic VipondSaravana KumarGillian HallKaren Grimmer-Somers1, Nic Vipond2, Saravana Kumar1, Gillian Hall21Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia, Australia; 2Accident Compensation Corporation, Wellington, New Zealand Background: Early identification of individuals at risk of developing persistent pain is important to decrease unnecessary treatment costs and disability. However there is scant comprehensive information readily available to assist clinicians to choose appropriate assessment instruments with sound psychometric and clinical properties.Objective: A national insurer commissioned the development of a compendium of assessment instruments to identify adults with, or at-risk of developing, persistent pain. This paper reports on the instrument identification and review process.Methods: A comprehensive systematic literature review was undertaken of assessment instruments for persistent pain of noncancer origin, and their developmental literature. Only assessment instruments which were developed for patients with pain, or tested on them, were included. A purpose-built ‘Ready Reckoner’ scored psychometric properties and clinical utility.Results: One hundred sixteen potentially useful instruments were identified, measuring severity, psychological, functional and/or quality of life constructs of persistent pain. Forty-five instruments were short-listed, with convincing psychometric properties and clinical utility. There were no standard tests for psychometric properties, and considerable overlap of instrument purpose, item construct, wording, and scoring.Conclusion: No one assessment instrument captured all the constructs of persistent pain. While the compendium focuses clinicians’ choices, multiple instruments are required for comprehensive assessment of adults with persistent pain.Keywords: persistent pain, assessment, psychometric properties, evidence-base, clinical utility http://www.dovepress.com/a-review-and-critique-of-assessment-instruments-for-patients-with-pers-a2932
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Karen Grimmer-Somers
Nic Vipond
Saravana Kumar
Gillian Hall
spellingShingle Karen Grimmer-Somers
Nic Vipond
Saravana Kumar
Gillian Hall
A review and critique of assessment instruments for patients with persistent pain
Journal of Pain Research
author_facet Karen Grimmer-Somers
Nic Vipond
Saravana Kumar
Gillian Hall
author_sort Karen Grimmer-Somers
title A review and critique of assessment instruments for patients with persistent pain
title_short A review and critique of assessment instruments for patients with persistent pain
title_full A review and critique of assessment instruments for patients with persistent pain
title_fullStr A review and critique of assessment instruments for patients with persistent pain
title_full_unstemmed A review and critique of assessment instruments for patients with persistent pain
title_sort review and critique of assessment instruments for patients with persistent pain
publisher Dove Medical Press
series Journal of Pain Research
issn 1178-7090
publishDate 2009-03-01
description Karen Grimmer-Somers1, Nic Vipond2, Saravana Kumar1, Gillian Hall21Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia, Australia; 2Accident Compensation Corporation, Wellington, New Zealand Background: Early identification of individuals at risk of developing persistent pain is important to decrease unnecessary treatment costs and disability. However there is scant comprehensive information readily available to assist clinicians to choose appropriate assessment instruments with sound psychometric and clinical properties.Objective: A national insurer commissioned the development of a compendium of assessment instruments to identify adults with, or at-risk of developing, persistent pain. This paper reports on the instrument identification and review process.Methods: A comprehensive systematic literature review was undertaken of assessment instruments for persistent pain of noncancer origin, and their developmental literature. Only assessment instruments which were developed for patients with pain, or tested on them, were included. A purpose-built ‘Ready Reckoner’ scored psychometric properties and clinical utility.Results: One hundred sixteen potentially useful instruments were identified, measuring severity, psychological, functional and/or quality of life constructs of persistent pain. Forty-five instruments were short-listed, with convincing psychometric properties and clinical utility. There were no standard tests for psychometric properties, and considerable overlap of instrument purpose, item construct, wording, and scoring.Conclusion: No one assessment instrument captured all the constructs of persistent pain. While the compendium focuses clinicians’ choices, multiple instruments are required for comprehensive assessment of adults with persistent pain.Keywords: persistent pain, assessment, psychometric properties, evidence-base, clinical utility
url http://www.dovepress.com/a-review-and-critique-of-assessment-instruments-for-patients-with-pers-a2932
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