Development of a chronic pain assessment tool.

Research demonstrates that many nurses lack knowledge about pain assessment, the differences between acute and chronic pain, and the use of pain rating scales. In this article, the authors describe an instrument for evaluating chronic pain, the purpose of which is to assess systematically the various dimensions of chronic pain and its impact on quality of life. This assessment can establish a baseline for developing clients' treatment plans and can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment plans. Using this tool can provide an accurate multidimensional assessment of clients' chronic pain experiences. The article also discusses recommendations for other applications of the tool.