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Pain Assessment and Measurements

Pain assessment and measurements lead to better pain management, improved patient-provider communication, and enhanced overall well-being for individuals living with pain.


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Overview

What are Pain Assessment and Measurements?

Pain assessment and measurements refer to the systematic process of evaluating and quantifying a person’s experience of pain. Gathering information from patients about their pain experience is essential to better understand and manage it. This process relies on self-reported information, standardized scales and tools, non-verbal cues, and consideration of various dimensions of pain, including its impact on the patient’s life. Accurate pain assessment also considers pain's location, impact, and cultural factors, ultimately guiding tailored treatments for improved pain management and overall patient care.

Key Aspects of Pain Assessment and Measurements

The healthcare community and public should prioritize the following key points about pain assessment and measurements.

Incorporating these points into healthcare practice and public education can lead to better pain management, improved patient-provider communication, and enhanced overall well-being for individuals living with pain.

Pain Assessment and Measurements Resources

Learn More About Pain Assessment and Measurements

Pain assessment and measurement is critical for compassionate, effective, and ethical healthcare delivery, benefiting patients, healthcare providers, and the healthcare system as a whole. For more information about pain assessment and measurements, the International Association for the Study of Pain offers a variety of resources, such as factsheets, webinars, journal articles, and resources relevant to people living with pain conditions.

R.D. Treede
Meet the Pain Assessment and Measurements Expert

Meet Professor Dr. Rolf-Detlef Treede

Rolf-Detlef Treede is a retired professor of neurophysiology at the Mannheim Center for Translational Neuroscience (MCTN) and active pain researcher at the Central Institute for Mental Health (CIMH) of Heidelberg University in Germany and former president of the International Association for the Study of Pain. IASP wishes to thank Professor Dr. Treede for volunteering his time and expertise helping to curate the content for this topic page.

IASP IS MAKING AN IMPACT

IASP is Making an Impact on Pain Assessment and Measurements

The International Association for the Study of Pain has dedicated several Global Year campaigns to special aspects of pain that directly relate to the topic of pain assessment and measurements. They include:

IASP SIGs making an impact on the study of pain assessment and measurements include the Neuropathic Pain SIG, which advances the understanding of mechanisms, assessment, prevention, and treatment of pain due to lesions or diseases of the somatosensory nervous system. The IASP Global Advocacy Working Group promotes the use of the ICD-11 codes (International Classification of Diseases) together with the ICF classification (International Classification of Functioning) in pain diagnosis, pain management, clinical trials, and research.