Assessment of pain in older Asian Americans with cancer

This cross-sectional study focused on pain assessment in a group of older Asian Americans with cancer. Thirty-six participants and their primary nurses were interviewed, and pain intensity was measured using 3 different scales: the Numeric pain intensity 0-10 scale, the Faces expression scale, and Visual analog scale (VAS). Overall, 56% of participants reported pain. Younger age (65-75 years old) was significantly associated with higher pain intensity (p < 0.05). High correlation was found between the participants' and their nurses' pain intensity ratings (r = 0.69, p < 0.0001). High correlation was also found among different pain intensity scales, with a Spearman correlation coefficient ranging from 0.89 to 0.96 (p < 0.0001), suggesting that they are reliable measures in this population.