Instructions For Administration of a Pain Assessment

Individual  

 After completing the registration and login process print a free copy of the Pain Assessment Questionnaire.  Fill out the form, in its entirety, prior to entering the Pain Assessment Questionnaire data into the computer. By taking the time to complete the Pain Assessment form, in a thoughtful and comprehensive manner, you will have a true and accurate picture of your pain symptoms.  

 Login to your account and select  “Questionnaire”  to enter the data from the Pain Assessment form into the computer.  Upon completion of entering the data into the computer select “print” to get your report printed on your computer. 

 If you have to reprint one or more of your reports, at a latter date, simply login to you account and select  “Patients” to access all of your Pain Assessment  reports and select which Pain Assessment report requires reprinting.  There isn’t any charge for reprints of  your Pain Assessment reports.

 We recommended that a Pain Assessment be taken every 45 to 60 days.  This allows time for pain treatment therapies to take effect and for our Pain Assessment reports to be utilized, in providing you, with a true evaluation of  the effectiveness of  those therapies. 

 By utilizing our Comparison Report  software, which allows for the comparison of up to four (4) Pain Assessment reports, you’ll receive a comprehensive appraisal of your progression in the elimination of your pain symptoms. 

Data Entry Form

Fields with an asterisk are required fields and must be completed. Fields without an asterisk are not required. However, all fields, in regards to pain symptoms and medical conditions, should be completed, if applicable, to the current pain problem. Fields regarding past and other health conditions, while not required, should be completed as

Medical Facility

 In a medical facility the Pain Assessment Questionnaire averages from 15 to 30 minutes for a patient to complete. Be sure the patient is seated comfortably; give him/her the form on a clipboard or tabletop and inform them that this questionnaire is formatted as a "self-report".  Explain simply "this Pain Inventory and Symptom Checklist will help assess your pain problems and evaluate your injury”.

 The pages of the questionnaire form must be filled in by the patient, to include all details regarding their pain and according to the instructions for each section.  Spaces in each section require their response relating to their current injury and present pain problems.

 It is necessary for the entire form to be complete for accurate processing and appropriate scoring. If a patient has difficulty completing any section that applies directly to their pain or injury, the administrator may assist them only by reading the questions and recording patient response precisely as stated by the patient.

 Inform the patient  "You need to fill out this form based on the symptoms you are experiencing now. If someone is with the patient, inform them that the form is to be completed only by the patient, no one else.

 The patient should attempt to complete as much of the form as possible without assistance (from anyone with them or your staff).  However, if necessary, someone from your staff may assist a patient with clarification of instructions without coaching or coaxing.

 Studies show that patients may fail to read the instructions carefully and miss three essential features. They may choose more than one word from a word list, they may feel compelled to choose a word from every subclass and they may fail to describe the pain at that moment in time and use words that describe a pain they had hours or days earlier. It is important therefore, that patients fully understand the instructions and selects only those words that describe the pain at the moment the questionnaire is administered.

 It is important that the patient understands the meaning of the words. Some of  words may be beyond the patients vocabulary and may need to be defined. Sometimes a patient is not sure whether a word in a particular subclass is appropriate and may ask to have the word defined. It is important to utilize patience and understanding.  Impatience may lead to a hurried and incorrect decision by the patient.

 After the patient has finished filling out the Pain Assessment Questionnaire, to the best of their ability, go over the form quickly to check that all questions are answered.  As you go over each page of the form you may ask the patient if there are any more comments or pertinent information they would like to add regarding each section (additional insight is often helpful).  If they have not completed any section verbally ask them that question and write their specific answers in the appropriate spaces..

 If a patient asks for an explanation of specific words from the pain word group list, simply suggest that they skip any words they aren't sure of and mark the words they recognize as defining their pain. If the patient has chosen more than one word per word group have them select the best word from that group that best describes their current pain symptom and correct the Pain Assessment input form.  Remembering that  it’s not necessary to choose a word from each word group.

Verify that the patient has correctly provided the following information:

 ·    The patients occupation is written in the patient info section.

·   Verify if this is a work-related injury and the appropriate space is marked on the form.

·   Date of injury and cause or nature of accident, with brief explanation.

·   Pain assessment.

·   Pain drawing is complete.

·   The word list is marked

·    All change in pain statements at the bottom of that page are  answered.

·    Activities that increase and decrease their pain are marked.

·    Past and present problems.

·    Because of my pain.

 Login to your account and select  “Questionnaire”  to enter the data from the Pain Assessment form into the computer.  Upon completion of entering the data into the computer select “print” to get your report printed on your computer. 

 If you have to reprint one or more of your reports, at a latter date, simply login to you account and select  “Patients” to access all of your patients Pain Assessment  reports and select which Pain Assessment report requires reprinting.  There isn’t any charge for reprints of  your Pain Assessment reports.

 We recommended that a Pain Assessment be taken every 45 to 60 days.  This allows time for pain treatment therapies to take effect and for our Pain Assessment reports to be utilized, in providing the medical practitioner, with a true evaluation of  the effectiveness of  those therapies. 

 By utilizing our Comparison Report  software, which allows for the comparison of up to four (4) Pain Assessment reports, you’ll receive a comprehensive appraisal of your patients progression in the elimination of their pain symptoms. 

 Doctor Patient Communication

 Pain Assessment will literally save you hours of work per week.

Pain assessment will improve your understanding of what you patient needs to tell you.

Your patient will appreciate the opportunity for enhanced communication.

Reluctant patients will respond to “one picture = 1,000 words”

The patient can fill out the form at home on the day of their office visit.

Reassessment and progress can be readily established by re-administration and a comparison report.

Patients are often surprised by the comparison of their initial Pain Assessment and their Pain Assessment comparison report following a period of treatment.

Re-administration can also help with the final resolution of complicated cases or tell the practitioner what he or she missed.

Data Entry Form

Fields with an asterisk are required fields and must be completed. Fields without an asterisk are not required. However, all fields, in regards to pain symptoms and medical conditions, should be completed, if applicable, to the current pain problem. Fields regarding past and other health conditions, while not required, should be completed as they may be indicators of conditions leading up to or enhancing the pain condition.

Attorney/Client Communication

 When the Questionnaire form is given to the client, explain simply "This Pain Inventory and Symptom Checklist will help assess your pain problems and evaluate your injury."  Then inform the client.  "You need to fill out this form based on the pain symptoms you have experienced during THIS LAST WEEK."

 If someone is with the client, inform them that the form is to be completed only by the client, no one else. 

 The pages of the questionnaire form must be filled in by the client, to include all details regarding their pain and according to the instructions for each section.  Spaces in each section require their response relating to their current injury and present pain problems.

 It is necessary for the entire form to be complete for accurate processing and appropriate scoring. If a client has difficulty completing any section that applies directly to their pain or injury, the administrator may assist them only by reading the questions and recording client response precisely as stated by the client.

Studies show that clients may fail to read the instructions carefully and miss three essential features. They may choose more than one word from a word list, they may feel compelled to choose a word from every subclass and they may fail to describe the pain at that moment in time and use words that describe a pain they had hours or days earlier. It is important therefore, that clients fully understand the instructions and selects only those words that describe the pain at the moment the questionnaire is administered.

 It is important that the client understands the meaning of the words. Some of  words may be beyond the clients vocabulary and may need to be defined. Sometimes a client is not sure whether a word in a particular subclass is appropriate and may ask to have the word defined. It is important to utilize patience and understanding.  Impatience may lead to a hurried and incorrect decision by the client.

 After the client has finished filling out the Pain Assessment Questionnaire, to the best of their ability, go over the form quickly to check that all questions are answered.  As you go over each page of the form you may ask the client if there are any more comments or pertinent information they would like to add regarding each section (additional insight is often helpful).  If they have not completed any section verbally ask them that question and write their specific answers in the appropriate spaces..

 If a client asks for an explanation of specific words from the pain word group list, simply suggest that they skip any words they aren't sure of and mark the words they recognize as defining their pain. If the client has chosen more than one word per word group have them select the best word from that group that best describes their current pain symptom and correct the Pain Assessment input form.  Remembering that  it’s not necessary to choose a word from each word group.

 Login to your account and select  “Questionnaire”  to enter the data from the Pain Assessment form into the computer.  Upon completion of entering the data into the computer select “print” to get your report printed on your computer. 

 If you have to reprint one or more of your reports, at a latter date, simply login to you account and select  “Patients” to access all of your clients Pain Assessment reports and select which Pain Assessment report requires reprinting.  There isn’t any charge for reprints of  your Pain Assessment reports.

 For a true analysis of a clients pain and recovery time a Pain Assessment should be given every 45 to 60 days.  By utilizing our Comparison Report  software, which allows for the comparison of up to four (4) Pain Assessment reports, you’ll receive a comprehensive appraisal of your clients progression in the resolution of their pain symptoms. 

 Our Computerized Psychological Pain Assessment provides a written record of a clients pain symptoms over a period of time that can go on for years. A low cost solution providing a comprehensive record with comparison reports monitoring a clients pain throughout their ordeal. This computerized Psychological Pain Assessment is your definitive solution to long term tracking and record keeping of a clients pain and suffering.

Data Entry Form

Fields with an asterisk are required fields and must be completed. Fields without an asterisk are not required. However, all fields, in regards to pain symptoms and medical conditions, should be completed, if applicable, to the current pain problem. Fields regarding past and other health conditions, while not required, should be completed as they may be indicators of conditions leading up to or enhancing the pain condition.