Pain assessment in rheumatology – How can we do better? A literature review

Patients’ symptoms have a place of prominence in the rheumatology landscape, and among them pain is the most conspicuous. Several pain assessment tools have been validated. One-dimensional pain scales such as visual analog scales (VASs) and numeric rating scales (NRSs) are fast to administer but have limitations that must be acknowledged. Some clinical situations require the use of multidimensional scales such as the McGill Pain Questionnaire or the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI). These tools allow the assessment and management of the diverse components of pain. Here, we review the main patient-reported outcomes that can serve to evaluate pain and the psychometric properties of pain assessment tools. We also discuss the selection of the tool most appropriate for each situation (e.g., everyday practice and research).