THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL-CONTEXT ON PAIN MEASUREMENT

Objectives: To examine the influence of social contexts on patients' p ain measurements. Methods: Forty people, with rheumatoid arthritis com pleted a visual analog scale [VAS] [twice], the McGill Pain Questionna ire [MPQ], patient and partner were interviewed using a semi-structure d schedule. Results: Differences [not statistically significant] were found between: those living alone and those with a partner; hospital V AS scores of men and their home scores; mean scores of men with emotio nally supportive partners and those with instrumentally supportive par tners; MPQ scores [Pain Rating Intensity [PRI]] and pain ratings from interviews. Conclusions: The variations in pain scores in different so cial contexts suggest that pain scores may be socially influenced.