How and Why Patient Concerns Influence Pain Reporting: A Qualitative Analysis of Personal Accounts and Perceptions of Others’ Use of Numerical Pain Scales

Brandon L. Boring, Kaitlyn T. Walsh, Namrata Nanavaty, Brandon W. Ng, Vani A. Mathur

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Complex factors influence how people report and interpret numerical pain ratings. Such variability can introduce noise and systematic bias into clinical pain assessment. Identification of factors that influence self-rated pain and its interpretation by others may bolster utility of these scales. In this qualitative study, 338 participants described motivations for modulating their own pain reports relative to a numerical pain scale (0–10), as well as perceptions of others’ pain reporting modulation. Responses indicated that people over-report pain to enhance provider belief/responsiveness or the likelihood of pain relief, and out of fear of future pain or potential illness. Concerns of how one’s pain affects and is perceived by others, and financial concerns motivated pain under-reporting. Unprompted, many participants reported never modulating their pain ratings, citing trust in providers and personal ethics. Similar reasons were assumed to motivate others’ pain ratings. However, participants often attributed others’ over-reporting to internal causes, and their own to external. This bias may underlie common assumptions that patients over-report pain for nefarious reasons, distort interpretation of pain reports, and contribute to pain invalidation. Recognition of patient concerns and one’s own personal biases toward others’ pain reporting may improve patient-provider trust and support precision of numerical pain ratings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number663890
JournalFrontiers in Psychology
Volume12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2 2021

Keywords

  • attribution bias
  • clinical reporting
  • interpretation of pain
  • pain rating
  • self-report

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychology(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'How and Why Patient Concerns Influence Pain Reporting: A Qualitative Analysis of Personal Accounts and Perceptions of Others’ Use of Numerical Pain Scales'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this