Abstract
The evaluation of pain is indispensable for the diagnosis of illness and assessment of the treatment outcome. The pain evaluation method must have scientific reliability and validity. In addition, such methods should provide information on the patient to a number of doctors equally, independent of the emotional and physical condition of the patient.
Evaluation of pain using language, numerical scale and analog scale is done in outpatient care units because it is simple and easy to perform. Another method is the use of medical equipment such as a sensory nerve stimulator, thermograph and pain imaging.
Because pain is the internal experience of the patient and manifests itself as subjective feeling and sensation, the objective evaluation of pain by clinicians is very difficult. Therefore, we must assess the complaint of pain correctly. In particular, we should understand the difference between subjective and objective evaluations when considering the method. Moreover, it is necessary that we understand and utilize the reliability and performance limitations of medical equipment in pain evaluation.
