Brief pain assessment card is an 8.5 into 11 inch card comprising of eight pain intensity indicators and three visual analogue scales printed. It measures pain intensity, pain relief and mood. The descriptor scale and VAS may be difficult for some patients.

This originally designed to assess pain in cancer patients by pain research group of the World Health Organization. It also assesses how pain is affecting quality of life (work, sleep and mood). It shows response to both behavioural and pharmacological pain interventions. It has a short form used for clinical trials and a long form for patient assessment.

It measures various activities of life affected by pain. Seven categories measuring family, entertainment, socialisation, work, sexual activity, self-care and life support activities are measured on a scale of 0–10.