Article

All subjects, except one, provided descriptors of the quality of their pain. The use of simile was common to emphasize both what the pain was, and what it was not. Five subjects expressed a loss of words in trying to describe their pain. Only 13 of 29 different pain descriptors used were commensurate with those in the McGill Pain Questionnaire (Melzack, 1983). Subjects had great difficulty quantifying their pain intensity. Several explained how the pain fluctuated, thus, quantifying pain at one point in time was problematic. Only one subject offered a numerical description of pain intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects provided graphic and in-depth descriptions of their pain experience, but these bore little resemblance to commonly used assessment tools. The findings challenge the appropriateness of such formal instruments.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Identifiant basis : 2001214116