Assessment of cancer pain by the McGill Pain Questionnaire: results of two scoring methods in a sample of British patients and comparison with previous studies

Pain experienced by 29 British cancer patients was evaluated by the McGill Pain Questionnaire. The questionnaires were analysed according to the traditional and a newly proposed scoring method. The results were compared with previously published studies. Scores relating to the sensory and affective components of pain were found to be similar for all groups of cancer pain patients. On the contrary, differences between groups were found for evaluative scores of the overall experience of pain. A previously observed pattern of pain intensity-complexity correlation in cancer pain patients was reproduced. Interpretations of the similarities and discrepancies among groups of patients are discussed.