A pain scale measures a patient's pain intensity or other features. Pain scales are based on self-report, observational (behavioral), or physiological data. Self-report is considered primary and should be obtained if possible. Pain measurements help determine the severity, type, and duration of the pain, and are used to make an accurate diagnosis, determine a treatment plan, and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Pain scales are available for neonates, infants, children, adolescents, adults, seniors, and persons whose communication is impaired. Pain assessments are often regarded as "the 5th Vital Sign".
Alder Hey Triage Pain Score
Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS)
Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)
Checklist of Nonverbal Pain Indicators (CNPI)
Clinical Global Impression (CGI)
Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)
COMFORT scale
Dallas Pain Questionnaire
Descriptor differential scale (DDS)
Dolorimeter Pain Index (DPI)
Edmonton Symptom Assessment System
Faces Pain Scale - Revised (FPS-R)
Face Legs Activity Cry Consolability scale
Lequesne algofunctional index: a composite measure of pain and disability, with separate self-report questionnaires for hip and knee OA (osteoarthritis):Original index (1987)
1991 revision
1997 revision
McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ)
Neck Pain and Disability Scale –NPAD
Numerical 11 point box (BS-11)
Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11)
OSWESTRY Index
Palliative Care Outcome Scale (PCOS)
Roland-Morris Back Pain Questionnaire
Support Team Assessment Schedule (STAS)
Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale
Visual analog scale (VAS)
Disease-Specific Pain Scale: DSPI = (ΣX · Y) · 100 where X is the highest pain level on a 0–10 scale and Y is the percentage of this pain level in the group. The DSPI is different from the simple numeric 0–10 scale in that it is measured for a group of patients with a specific diagnosis whereas the numeric 0–10 pain scale is administered individually.
Pediatric Pain Questionnaire (PPQ) for measuring pain in children
Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) for measuring pain in premature infants
Schmidt Sting Pain Index and Starr sting pain scale both for insect stings
Colorado Behavioral Numerical Pain Scale (for sedated patients)
AUSCAN: Disease-Specific, to assess hand osteoarthritis outcomes.
WOMAC : Disease-Specific, to assess knee osteoarthritis outcomes.
Osteoarthritis Research Society International-Outcome Measures in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials (OARSI-OMERACT) Initiative, New OA Pain Measure: Disease-Specific, Osteoarthritis Pain
The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11) is an 11–point scale for patient self-reporting of pain. It is for adults and children 10 years old or older.
The most common pain scale for quantification of endometriosis-related pain is the visual analogue scale (VAS). A review came to the conclusion that VAS and numerical rating scale (NRS) were the best adapted pain scales for pain measurement in endometriosis. For research purposes, and for more detailed pain measurement in clinical practice, the review suggested use of VAS or NRS for each type of typical pain related to endometriosis (dysmenorrhea, deep dyspareunia and non-menstrual chronic pelvic pain), combined with the clinical global impression (CGI) and a quality of life scale.
