Multimodal smärtskattning : Hur visuella och textuella modaliteter inkluderar patienter med komplex smärtperception vid utformningen av smärtskattningsverktyg

The pain scales currently used within Swedish healthcare are not adapted to be used effectively by people with complicated pain experiences, such as people with chronic pain, autistic people and people with a high pain tolerance. This can make it difficult for them to understand and communicate their pain to healthcare professionals, which leads to delayed, inadequate or absent care. The goal of this study is to explore if visual modalities such as illustrations and symbols could help patients interpret, understand and communicate their pain, with the end goal being to create an adapted pain scale or pain assessment tool that accommodates the needs of the target group while also being easier and more effective for them to use. This study used multimodality, semiotics and cognition as theoretical approaches. This study also used scientific methodology such as inclusive design, semi-structured interviews, a needs assessment, prototyping, A/B testing and Occham’s razor to collect and analyze data, and to create the final artefact. The study resulted in an alternative pain assessment tool, which took the shape of a two-page form, consisting of both images and text. The study found that visual modalities such as illustrations can help patients understand, interpret and explain their pain, but that explanatory and descriptive text needs to be used in conjunction them, suggesting that a multimodal approach is essential to being able to design pain assessment tools that accommodates the needs of the target group.