The validation of PRISM in Orofacial pain, with reference to Chronic pain graded scale and Insomnia Severity Index

The impact of pain on a person is complex and multifaceted. Pain leads to suffering which threatens the patient because of fear. The alleviation of suffering is crucial in medicine. The complex techniques and methods that physicians usually use to make a diagnosis, however, are aimed at the body rather than the person. The diagnosis of suffering is therefore often missed. Thus in this study we have focused on a new tool PRISM to assess the level of suffering and to see how it can help to bring a positive impact in the patient's life.

To compare the validation of modified version of a visualization tool (PRISM) with established tools like Chronic Pain Graded Scale and Insomnia Severity Index among orofacial pain patients.

107 orofacial pain patients reporting to the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, The Oxford Dental College Hospital and research center, Bangalore, were enrolled for the study. They completed a questionnaire based survey, including Chronic Pain Graded Scale (GCPS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) as well as a paper and pencil version of PRISM.

PRISM could readily detect patients with high, pain related suffering. The PRISM scores correlated strongly with all subscores of pain (measured by GCPS) and sleep (measured by ISI).

These data support the hypothesis that PRISM, a simple non verbal graphic tool can alert clinicians to a high burden of suffering. PRISM can enhance the patient's description and understanding of his/her illness and circumstances, fecilitate patient-clinician communication, and help to monitor salient changes with treatment.