Harmonizing Pain Outcome Measures: Results of the Pre-OMERACT Meeting on Partnerships for Consensus on Patient-important Pain Outcome Domains Between the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group and OMERACT.

Abstract

A variety of authorities in pain measurement and outcome methodology met prior to the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) 12 meeting in May 2014 to develop partnerships for consensus on pain outcomes. Following overview presentations, discussion centered on pain-specific and global constructs in the domain of chronic pain. Practical issues for clinical trial implementation were also discussed. Breakout sessions were completed regarding additional details of domain constructs. A nominal group process involving all workshop participants confirmed that chronic pain outcome measures encompass a broad range of constructs and that existing scales may be inadequate for assessment in clinical trials. Participants endorsed that both pain intensity and pain interference are important constructs to be measured in clinical trials of chronic pain as it pertains to rheumatologic diagnoses. Further work is needed on inclusion of the patient perspective in the development of pain domains as well as Cochrane Collaboration summary of findings tables.