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Measurement of Pain

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Pain

Abstract

Treatment of pain first requires an accurate measurement of pain. Though complex and multifactorial, it is based on two overarching concepts: qualifying and quantifying pain. In practicality, this information is obtained from the subjective report of pain by a patient and/or the use additional validated tools for measuring pain. Radiological or laboratory studies are limited in that they may only evaluate underlying pathology. Thus, it is vital for a physician to adequately measure a patient’s pain to provide effective and timely treatments and to avoid unnecessary medications and procedures. The ultimate goal would be the improvement in quality of life of a patient. Measurement of pain in pediatric as well as adult population is discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Phoenix Interventional Center for Advanced Learning, Algonquin, IL, USA

    Vikram B. Patel

  2. Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, USA

    Chandani P. DeZure

  3. George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA

    Chandani P. DeZure

Authors
  1. Vikram B. Patel
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  2. Chandani P. DeZure
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA

    Alaa Abd-Elsayed

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Patel, V.B., DeZure, C.P. (2019). Measurement of Pain. In: Abd-Elsayed, A. (eds) Pain. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99124-5_37

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99124-5_37

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-99123-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-99124-5

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