Assessment tools for the evaluation of pain in the oncology patient.

The control of cancer pain is an essential goal in the care of patients with cancer. Inadequate pain assessment by health care providers is a major risk factor for undertreatment of pain. Repeated and accurate pain assessment is required for optimal pain management. Pain assessment tools such as simple rating scales and short pain questionnaires can facilitate routine measurement of cancer-related pain in clinical and research settings. In addition to measuring pain intensity, it is important to determine the impact of pain on patients' function, mood, and quality of life. Developmental issues must be considered when assessing the pain of children and elderly individuals with cancer. Novel technologies may be used to improve accurate and timely pain measurement.