Steps for Assessment

: Basic Interview Instructions for Pain
Assessment Interview (J0300-J0600)
1. Interview any resident not screened out by the Should Pain Assessment Interview be
Conducted? item (J0200).
2. The Pain Assessment Interview for residents consists of seven items: the primary question
Pain Presence item (J0300) and six follow-up questions. If the resident is unable to answer
the primary question on Pain Presence item J0300, skip to the Staff Assessment for Pain
beginning with Indicators of Pain or Possible Pain item (J0800).
3. Conduct the interview in a private setting.
4. Be sure the resident can hear you.
•
Residents with hearing impairment should be tested using their usual communication
devices/techniques, as applicable.
•
Try an external assistive device (headphones or hearing amplifier) if you have any doubt
about hearing ability.
•
Minimize background noise.
5. Sit so that the resident can see your face. Minimize glare by directing light sources away
from the resident’s face.
6. Give an introduction before starting the interview. Suggested language: “I’d like to ask you
some questions about pain. The reason I am asking these questions is to understand how
often you have pain, how severe it is, and how pain affects your daily activities. This will
help us to develop the best plan of care to help manage your pain.”
7. Directly ask the resident each item in the Pain Assessment
Interview in the order provided.
•
Use other terms for pain or follow-up discussion if the
resident seems unsure or hesitant. Some residents avoid
use of the term “pain” but may report that they “hurt.”
Residents may use other terms such as “aching” or
“burning” to describe pain.
8. If the resident chooses not to answer a particular item,
accept their refusal, code 9, and move on to the next item.
9. If the resident is unsure about whether pain or the effects or
interference of pain occurred in the last 5 days, prompt the
resident to think about the most recent episode of pain and
try to determine whether it occurred in the last 5 days.
DEFINITION
PAIN
Any type of physical pain or
discomfort in any part of the
body. It may be localized to
one area or may be more
generalized. It may be acute
or chronic, continuous or
intermittent, or occur at rest
or with movement. Pain is
very subjective; pain is
whatever the experiencing
person says it is and exists
whenever they say it does.