Pain scale
Pain scale
A Pain scale is a tool that healthcare professionals use to measure a patient's pain intensity. The most common types of pain scales are numerical, visual, and descriptive.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /peɪn skeɪl/
Etymology
The term "pain scale" is derived from the Latin word "poena" meaning "punishment" or "penalty," and the Old Norse word "skali" meaning "bowl" or "scale."
Definition
A pain scale is a clinical tool used in a medical context to assess the intensity or severity of a patient's pain. The scales are subjective and rely on the patient's ability to report their pain level.
Types of Pain Scales
There are several types of pain scales, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Some of the most commonly used include:
- Numerical rating scale (NRS): This scale asks patients to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain imaginable.
- Visual analogue scale (VAS): This scale uses a horizontal line, usually 10 centimeters (100 mm) in length, anchored by word descriptors at each end.
- Faces Pain Scale (FPS): This scale uses a series of faces to help children express the level of pain they are experiencing.
- McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ): This scale is a more comprehensive tool that assesses pain quality and intensity.
Related Terms
- Analgesic: A type of medication used to relieve pain.
- Chronic Pain: Long-term pain that lasts for more than three months.
- Acute Pain: Short-term pain that usually comes on suddenly and has a specific cause.
- Pain Threshold: The point at which a stimulus causes pain.
- Pain Tolerance: The maximum level of pain a person can handle.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pain scale
- Wikipedia's article - Pain scale
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