smerteprofiler

Smerteprofiler is a term used in Norwegian-language healthcare to describe a structured assessment of pain that aims to characterize an individual's pain experience across multiple dimensions. A smerteprofiler is designed to complement routine pain intensity ratings by documenting location, quality, temporal pattern, provoking and relieving factors, and the effect of pain on daily activities and mood. The final aim is to support diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring of response to therapy.

Common components include a body map for location, numeric rating scales (for example 0-10), descriptors or items modeled after established instruments (such as the McGill Pain Questionnaire or Brief Pain Inventory), questions about onset, duration, fluctuations, and circadian/routine patterns, triggers and alleviating factors, and measures of functional impact, sleep, mood, and social participation. Some smerteprofiler tools are self-administered on paper or digital devices, while others are completed with clinician guidance. Digital versions may employ ecological momentary assessment to collect data in real time.

Applications include helping differentiate pain origins (nociceptive, neuropathic, inflammatory), guiding treatment choices (pharmacologic, physical therapy, psychological interventions, interventional procedures), and tracking changes over time. In research, smerteprofiler data support phenotype classification, outcome measurement, and evaluation of interventions.

Limitations include reliance on subjective report, potential biases, and cultural or language differences that affect interpretation. Validity and reliability vary across instruments and populations, and access to digital tools may be unequal. A smerteprofiler should be used as part of a comprehensive clinical assessment rather than as a standalone diagnostic tool.