Articles: pain-measurement.
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There is an urgent need to prepare a reliable and accurate tool for pain assessment in patients who are unable to self-report. Translating pain assessment scales into foreign languages requires further validation testing. ⋯ The Polish version of the BPS has better psychometric properties than the Polish version of the NVPS. It is necessary to define precisely the descriptors used in the scales and to implement a staff training program.
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Primary dysmenorrhea (PD; menstrual pain without an underlying medical condition) is associated with enhanced pain sensitivity and temporal summation (TS) in adult women, which may reflect the presence of central pain processes. Research in this area has been limited by focusing on only adult populations and incomplete assessments of central sensitization. The current study explored both excitatory and inhibitory measures of pain processing in girls and young adult women with and without PD. ⋯ No group differences in cold pain tolerance, TS, or conditioned pain modulation were evident at any phase of the menstrual cycle. These data suggest some evidence of central sensitization in young women with PD, although no evidence of enhanced excitatory or deficient inhibitory mechanisms were observed. Future research should focus on identifying other potential phenotypes for PD to determine those at risk of developing other pain problems.
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Our aims were 1) to investigate whether perceived pain extent, assessed from the pain drawing, relates to clinical, psychological, and psychophysical outcomes in women with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS); 2) to assess differences in pain extent depending on the presence of median or extramedian symptoms; and 3) to investigate differences in pain extent according to severity (minimal, moderate, or severe) or laterality (unilateral or bilateral) of CTS. ⋯ Pain extent in the upper extremity was not associated with clinical, psychological, or psychophysical variables and was not related to the severity or laterality of the symptoms in women with CTS.
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An accurate holistic pediatric pain assessment is necessary for quality pain management. Evidence continues to be published indicating inadequacies in pediatric pain management. It is important for clinicians to consider the pain assessment process while caring for youth. ⋯ Because pain is multi-dimensional, assessing each dimension (quality, location, intensity, and meaning) is key to thorough assessment. Results provide insight into youth preferences influencing clinical practice such as offering options for interventions and having a voice in the pain management process. All nurses caring for children should discuss available pain tools preferably before the child is in pain and assure the child knows how to use the tool.