Abstract
Pain is among the most common symptoms of cancer. Because cancer can occur at any
age, it is imperative that pain assessment tools are valid for use across the adult
lifespan. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire–2 (SF-MPQ-2) is a valid and reliable
tool for the assessment of the multidimensional qualities of pain in people with chronic
nonmalignant pain, but its psychometric properties in people with cancer pain and
in older versus younger people require investigation. This study evaluated age differences
in the validity, reliability, and use of the SF-MPQ-2 in 244 people with advanced
cancer and pain. We confirmed the previously reported 4-factor solution in older (≥60 years)
and younger (<60 years) patients. Internal consistency reliability and convergent
validity were similar across age groups, although the SF-MPQ-2 sensory subscales were
correlated with mental health quality of life in older, but not younger, patients.
Older and younger patients selected the same words with the same intensity to describe
their pain. The most commonly selected words in both age groups were aching, tiring-exhausting,
sharp, and dull. These results demonstrate that the SF-MPQ-2 is appropriate for use
across the adult lifespan in people with cancer pain.
Perspective
This study demonstrated that the SF-MPQ-2 is valid for use in older and younger people
with advanced cancer and pain. This measure could improve cancer pain assessment across
the adult lifespan, which may lead to improved pain management.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 28, 2014
Accepted:
April 8,
2014
Received in revised form:
March 18,
2014
Received:
September 24,
2013
Footnotes
This project was supported by awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR MOP-62866) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation to L.G. L.R.G. received PhD Fellowship funding from the Canadian Cancer Society through an award from the National Cancer Institute of Canada (#019776) and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation–Ontario Region.
Robert H. Dworkin serves as Director of the Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations, Innovations, Opportunities, and Networks (ACTTION) public-private partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which receives a portion of the licensing fees from for-profit organizations using the SF-MPQ-2. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare.
Presented, in part, at the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Canadian Pain Society, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 2013.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
