Information on authorship and revision
Page last modified: 4 March 2016 02:29:39
Author(s): Australian Adult Cancer Pain Management Working Group
Screening
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(NCCN) | S1. For all patients who are able to communicate their level of pain: At each clinical encounter, assess worst and average pain intensity during the previous 24 hours using a self-reported numerical rating scale from zero to 10, where zero represents ‘no pain’ and 10 represents ‘worst pain you can imagine’.
Numerical rating scale for pain intensity
Verbal: What number describes your worst/average pain, where zero is no pain and ten is worst pain you can imagine.
Written: Please circle the number that best describes your worst/average pain over the past 24 hours:
Evidence-based recommendation![]() |
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Abbey Pain Scale. | S2. For people who cannot self-report due to cognitive impairment: At each clinical encounter, use the
Complete a comprehensive assessment if either of the following applies:
- a new patient reports a pain score of 2 or more on self-reported numerical rating scale of zero to 10, or 3 or more on the Abbey Pain Scale
- an existing patient reports a new pain or a sudden, unexpected change in intensity of pain.
Some people find it easier to rate their pain using pictures rather than numbers. See the Wong-Baker FACES® Pain Rating Scale (a pictorial scale available for download).
References
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Adult cancer pain. Version 2.2015: NCCN; 2015. Available from: http://www.nccn.org