Cancer pain intensity measurements in outpatients: preferences and comparison of pain scales among patients, caregivers, physicians and nurses in southern India.

Pain is frequently encountered in outpatient oncology practice and its management often is inadequate. Effective analgesia often could be provided for these patients through simple practices like pain intensity monitoring, documentation and treatment accordingly. A survey was carried out among cancer patients attending outpatient pain clinic to evaluate scale preferences, comparison of different scales as well as proxy reporting by caregiver, health professionals, for pain management. The aim of the study was to determine preferences in Indian population and to compare our study subjects' preferences to those previously reported in other cultures. A total of 99 patients participated in the study. The majority preferred a visual analogue scale (VAS). The visual analogue scale and verbal descriptive scale (VDS) were found to be equally reliable pain rating tools. Proxy reports were found to equally representative of patient's pain. VAS was the preferred pain assessment tool. In the absence of VAS scale, VDS also could be used. Proxy reports could be relied upon for management of pain.