Pain Assessment: The Cornerstone to Optimal Pain Management

• DOI: 10.1080/08998280.2000.11927681
• Publication Date: 2017-12-11T18:23:19Z
• Authors: Regina Fink
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 3. Good health

Pain assessment is critical to optimal pain management interventions. While pain is a highly subjective experience, its management necessitates objective standards of care. The WILDA approach to pain assessment-focusing on words to describe pain, intensity, location, duration, and aggravating or alleviating factors-offers a concise template for assessment in patients with acute and chronic pain.