Which pain scale is named for a questionnaire used to assess pain quality?

Which pain scale is named for a questionnaire used to assess pain quality?

• A. McGill pain questionnaire
• B. Verbal rating
• C. Number scale
• D. Visual analog scale

Answer: (A)

Pain assessment can be looked at in terms of quality versus intensity, and the instrument designed to capture how pain feels is the one that uses descriptive descriptors to describe the pain’s quality. The McGill Pain Questionnaire was developed to measure these qualitative aspects of pain, including sensory, affective, and evaluative dimensions, by having patients choose descriptive terms that best fit their pain. Because of this focus on describing the quality of pain rather than just how strong it is, it’s the name that comes from the instrument used to assess those qualitative aspects. The other scales listed—verbal rating, numerical rating, and visual analog—primarily measure intensity, not quality, so they aren’t named for a questionnaire that assesses pain quality.

Pain assessment can be looked at in terms of quality versus intensity, and the instrument designed to capture how pain feels is the one that uses descriptive descriptors to describe the pain’s quality. The McGill Pain Questionnaire was developed to measure these qualitative aspects of pain, including sensory, affective, and evaluative dimensions, by having patients choose descriptive terms that best fit their pain. Because of this focus on describing the quality of pain rather than just how strong it is, it’s the name that comes from the instrument used to assess those qualitative aspects. The other scales listed—verbal rating, numerical rating, and visual analog—primarily measure intensity, not quality, so they aren’t named for a questionnaire that assesses pain quality.