title: Analysis of the applicability of different pain questionnaires in three hospital settings: outpatient clinic, ward and emergency unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the applicability of pain assessment instruments in three hospital settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study comprised 60 patients with musculoskeletal pain cared for at the Conjunto Hospitalar de Sorocaba: orthopedic ward, Rheumatology outpatient clinic, and orthopedic emergency unit.
  Brief Pain Inventory (BPI); McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ); Visual Analogue Scale for pain (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the emergency unit, the male sex predominated, the mean age being 35 years. In the outpatient clinic, 18 men (mean age, 42 years) and two women (mean age, 55 years) were interviewed. In the orthopedic ward, men predominated (mean age, 30.7 years). In the orthopedic emergency unit and ward, the duration of application was shorter for VAS and longer for MPQ. The VAS duration of application was the shortest and did not differ in the three settings. In the orthopedic ward and emergency unit, patients preferred the BPI, and, at the ward, the VAS was the second option. In the outpatient clinic, the patients preferred BPI (80%), followed by MPQ, while the interviewers were equally divided between those same questionnaires. In the orthopedic emergency unit, the interviewers preferred the BPI (40%), and the remaining interviewers were equally divided between the other two instruments. There was more agreement than disagreement between the preferences of patients and interviewers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The multidimensional instruments for pain assessment have limitations regarding their applicability in daily health care activities.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, PUC-SP. jemartinez@terra.com.br
authors.forename: José Eduardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Daphine Centola
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: Laura Gasbarro
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult