Clinical assessment of the degree of cancer pain generally adopts two methods, one is Numerical Rating System (NRS), and the other one is Values for Complaints (VRS).
1. Numerical Rating System (NRS): It is divided into 0-10 levels, with 0 level indicating no pain and 10 level indicating the most severe pain. Generally, the patient chooses the number that best represents his or her pain, or is asked by the healthcare provider to correspond to the corresponding number based on the pain description. Facial expression scoring method can be chosen if there are communication barriers or communication with children.
(1) Grade 1-3: Mild pain, mostly in the early stage of cancer, can be intermittent, does not significantly affect daily life, and can be relieved on its own.
(2) Grade 4-6: moderate pain, persistent, affecting the patient’s rest, difficult to sleep, cannot be relieved on its own, and painkillers must be used.
(3) Grade 7-10: severe pain, persistent, and even gradually aggravated, patients can hardly tolerate, seriously affecting the daily life, there may also be changes in blood pressure, pulse, etc., need to apply strong opioid pain relief.
2. Complaints of pain grading method: VRS 0 for no pain; VRS 1 for mild pain, normal life, sleep is not affected; VAS 2 for moderate pain, requiring the use of pain medication, sleep is interfered with; NRS3 for severe pain, pain is severe, can be accompanied by autonomic disorders or passive body position.