The application of a pain assessment tool within a hand therapy unit : a comparison of pain measurements

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine a reliable and valid pain assessment tool to quantify the quality and intensity of pain, providing a simple method for the therapist to administer in an acute hand therapy unit and for a hand injured patient to follow. Thirty clinical case notes were evaluated. Two separate groups were divided according to the type of pain assessments. Group 1 consisted of those subjects who were assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Group 2 consisted of those subjects who were assessed by the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). The McGilI Pain Questionnaire measured quality and intensity of pain whilst the Visual Analogue Scale measured pain intensity. Pain levels' demonstrated a significant decrease between the initial pain score and the follow-up pain scores. Correlation coefficients were calculated to measure pain intensity and quality of pain attained by the Present Pain Intensity score and the Pain Rating Index score of the MPQ. Other statistical analyses measured the mean time taken to administer the initial pain score and the follow-up pain score for both pain assessments. Results demonstrated a relationship between quality and intensity of pain. Significant results for the Visual Analogue time scales (p<O.05) were determined but a low correlation was attained for the McGill Pain Questionnaire. The results of this study demonstrate that the Visual Analogue Scale is more effective to use in an acute hand therapy unit because of its simplicity to assess pain.