Top Pain Assessments and Their Value in Medical Decision Making

Celéri’s PainIntel™ offers access to various assessments for clients to use in a pain pathway (algorithm) such as PROMIS®29 for all new patients and then every 60 days or Oswestry for all presenting new low back pain or Opioid Risk Tool as a screen for all new patients pending a pharmacology intervention plan. 

1. PROMIS-29 (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System)

Purpose: Evaluates multiple health domains including physical function, pain interference, fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, and social participation.

Clinical Use: Provides a comprehensive profile of a patient’s health status, aiding in identifying areas needing intervention and tracking treatment outcomes.

2. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)

Purpose: Assesses the degree of disability and functional impairment due to low back pain.

Clinical Use: Helps determine the impact of back pain on daily activities, guiding treatment plans and evaluating patient progress over time.

3. Opioid Risk Tool (ORT)

Purpose: Screens for the risk of opioid misuse in patients being considered for opioid therapy.

Clinical Use: Identifies patients at higher risk for opioid abuse, informing prescribing decisions and the need for monitoring strategies.

4. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

Purpose: Measures pain intensity on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain).

Clinical Use: Provides a quick assessment of pain severity, useful for evaluating treatment efficacy and adjusting pain management strategies.

5. PROMIS Prescription Pain Medication Misuse

Purpose: Assesses behaviors indicative of prescription pain medication misuse.

Clinical Use: Aids in identifying patients who may be misusing medications, facilitating timely interventions and adjustments to treatment plans.

6. PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)

Purpose: Screens for depression and measures its severity based on nine criteria.

Clinical Use: Assists in diagnosing depression, monitoring treatment response, and making informed decisions regarding mental health interventions.

7. GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7)

Purpose: Screens for generalized anxiety disorder and assesses its severity.

Clinical Use: Facilitates the identification of anxiety disorders, guiding treatment choices and monitoring patient progress.

These tools collectively support pain clinicians in making informed decisions by providing standardized assessments of pain, functional impairment, and mental health status. They enable personalized treatment planning, risk assessment, and monitoring of therapeutic outcomes.