title: [The assessment of pain intensity using one-dimensional scales].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The assessment of pain intensity is mandatory in many medical disciplines. However, several pitfalls are associated with this task, as, for example, the selection of an instrument which is suitable for different groups of patients; the reliable and valid interpretation of the results, etc. Thus, the aim of the present review is to summarise the recent literature on this topic and to provide a selection of suitable instruments to assess pain intensity in different groups of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The recent literature was screened and summarised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assessment of pain has to be performed in consideration of the target population (e. g., age, health condition, cognitive function).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The selection of appropriate pain measurement scales is mandatory for achieving valid results.
authors.affiliation: Poliklinik für Zahnärztliche Prothetik, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Deutschland. Marc_Schmitter@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmitter
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: List
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wirz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Pain intensity measurement; Schmerzintensität; numerical rating scale; nummerische Ratingskala; visual analogue scale; visuelle Analogskala