What are the recommended assessment tools for evaluating acute pain in adults in a primary care setting?

Recommended assessment tools for evaluating acute pain in adults within a primary care setting include:

• Use of patient self-report pain scales such as the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) or equivalent numerical rating scales to quantify pain intensity, where moderate pain is typically scored 4 to 7 and severe pain above 7, acknowledging that pain is subjective and these are not strict definitions.
• Encouragement of patients to describe how pain affects their life and daily activities to provide a person-centred assessment.
• Consideration of the patient’s individual context including psychological, social, and cultural factors that may influence pain perception and reporting.
• Use of collaborative communication and shared decision-making approaches to understand the pain experience and impact on wellbeing.

While specific named tools beyond VAS are not detailed in the provided guidelines for acute pain in adults, the emphasis is on patient self-report scales and a holistic, person-centred assessment approach in primary care settings.

For acute painful episodes related to specific conditions such as sickle cell disease, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) or equivalent is recommended to assess pain severity, with clear definitions of moderate and severe pain based on VAS scores.

Overall, the assessment should integrate pain intensity measurement with exploration of the pain’s impact on life and function, using validated self-report tools and clinical judgement within a supportive patient-clinician relationship.

References: NICE CG143, NICE NG193