Validation of the short-form McGill pain questionnaire-2 in younger and older people with cancer pain.
Pain is among the most common symptoms of cancer. Because cancer can occur at any age, it is imperative that pain assessment tools are valid for use across the adult lifespan. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2) is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of the multidimensional qualities of pain in people with chronic nonmalignant pain, but its psychometric properties in people with cancer pain and in older versus younger people require investigation. This study evaluated age differences in the validity, reliability, and use of the SF-MPQ-2 in 244 people with advanced cancer and pain. We confirmed the previously reported 4-factor solution in older (≥ 60 years) and younger (<60 years) patients. Internal consistency reliability and convergent validity were similar across age groups, although the SF-MPQ-2 sensory subscales were correlated with mental health quality of life in older, but not younger, patients. Older and younger patients selected the same words with the same intensity to describe their pain. The most commonly selected words in both age groups were aching, tiring-exhausting, sharp, and dull. These results demonstrate that the SF-MPQ-2 is appropriate for use across the adult lifespan in people with cancer pain.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that the SF-MPQ-2 is valid for use in older and younger people with advanced cancer and pain. This measure could improve cancer pain assessment across the adult lifespan, which may lead to improved pain management.
School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Lynn R
LR
Gauthier
School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Alycia
A
Young
Departments of Anesthesiology and Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York.
Robert H
RH
Dworkin
Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Gary
G
Rodin
Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Camilla
C
Zimmermann
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
David
D
Warr
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Palliative Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
S Lawrence
SL
Librach
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Malcolm
M
Moore
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Frances A
FA
Shepherd
Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Rebecca
R
Pillai Riddell
School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Alison
A
Macpherson
Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Ronald
R
Melzack
School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: lucia.gagliese@uhn.ca.
Lucia
L
Gagliese
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire–2; age differences; cancer pain; reliability; validity