Common Data Elements (CDEs) Repository

The NIH HEAL Initiative’s Common Data Elements (CDEs) program aims to harmonize the data collected by the initiative’s studies, enhancing the comparability of various data sets generated by HEAL research.  

HEAL researchers and potential applicants conducting research with human participants should also prioritize using the HEAL CDEs. Researchers outside the HEAL Initiative conducting pain research may also be interested in using validated and structured questionnaires.

The 'core' questionnaires in ten domains, demographic information, and opioid usage are required for the human subjects in pain HEAL grants and are organized depending on the type of pain and population being studied.

Most HEAL pain studies would fall into one of several categories that would determine their core questionnaires: adult acute pain, adult chronic pain, or pediatric pain (both acute and chronic pain). These categories are listed in the “core or supplemental” column.

The “Advanced Search” function can filter the questionnaires by the specific type of pain research being conducted (acute vs. chronic), the patient population (adult vs. pediatric), and the domain (research topic) of the questionnaires.

For core questionnaires with multiple versions listed (e.g., GAD-2, GAD-7), studies can use any one of these versions, but at a minimum must use the shortest version listed.

The text box allows users to search for a specific questionnaire or research topic area.

Files can be downloaded directly from the links in the second column. Filenames that include the suffix “CRF” are questionnaires (case-report forms) and filenames with the suffix “CDE” are the CDE files with variable names and coding information.

To download more than one file at a time, use the checkboxes on the left hand side to select the files you would like to download. After you click the "Download Selected Files" button, you will get a message at the top of the page saying, "Export file created, Click here to download." This will download a zipped folder with your selections.

“Download list” allows users to download the list of questionnaires that are displayed as search results.

For questionnaires that are copyrighted and require a license for use, the files linked below contain instructions on how to properly obtain a license for use.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

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Description File Name File Language Core or Supplemental Research Topic
The Fear Avoidance - 1 item measures the avoidance of low back pain. English
  • Supplemental
 Fear of Pain
The Ferrara Group Experiences Scale (FEGES) is conceptually derived and assesses dimensions of group experience that are theoretically and practically relevant. It is brief, easy to use and has good psychometric properties English
  • Supplemental
 Social Support
The Frequency, Intensity, and Burden of Side Effects Ratings (FIBSER) is a 3 item scale to assess side effects from antidepressant treatment. English
  • Supplemental
 General Health Measures
The Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) is used to evaluate function, overall impact and symptoms of fibromyalgia over the past 7 days. English
  • Supplemental
 Fibromyalgia
The Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scale (FLACC) is a behavioral pain assessment scale used for nonverbal or preverbal patients who are unable to self-report their level of pain. English
  • Supplemental
 Pain Behavior
The Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI) is a self-report questionnaire that was developed to measure the trait of mindfulness. English
  • Supplemental
 Mindfulness
The Faces Pain Revised (FPS R) is a self-report measure to assess pain intensity in children. English
  • Supplemental
 Pain Intensity
The Faces Pain Revised (FPS R) is a self-report measure to assess pain intensity in children. Spanish
  • Supplemental
 Pain Intensity
The Familism scale (FS) is a 15 item measure of familism under three constructs: familial obligations, support from the family, and family as referents. English
  • Supplemental
 Social Support
The Familism scale (FS) is a 15 item measure of familism under three constructs: familial obligations, support from the family, and family as referents. Spanish
  • Supplemental
 Social Support
The Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC) assessment of multiple sclerosis (MS) related cognitive and motor fatigue. English
  • Supplemental
 Fatigue
The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) assesses fatigue as a symptom of a variety of different chronic conditions and disorders. English
  • Supplemental
 Fatigue
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) is an initial screening tool for generalized anxiety disorder. English
  • All Core
  • Adult Chronic
  • Adult Acute
  • Pediatrics
  • Supplemental
 Anxiety
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) is an initial screening tool for generalized anxiety disorder. Spanish
  • All Core
  • Adult Chronic
  • Adult Acute
  • Pediatrics
  • Supplemental
 Anxiety
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) is an initial screening tool for generalized anxiety disorder. Swedish
  • All Core
  • Adult Chronic
  • Adult Acute
  • Pediatrics
  • Supplemental
 Anxiety
The Graded Chronic Pain Scale-Revised (GCPS-R) identifies persons with chronic pain and grades chronic pain severity (mild, bothersome, high impact chronic pain). English
  • Supplemental
 Pain Intensity
The Graded Chronic Pain Scale-Revised (GCPS-R) identifies persons with chronic pain and grades chronic pain severity (mild, bothersome, high impact chronic pain). Swedish
  • Supplemental
 Pain Intensity
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to objectively describe the extent of impaired consciousness in all types of acute medical and trauma patients. English
  • Supplemental
 Neurological Assessments
The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) covers several components of physical activity, such as intensity, duration, and frequency, and it assesses three domains in which physical activity is performed (occupational physical activity, transport-related physical activity, and physical activity during discretionary or leisure time). English
  • Supplemental
 Physical Activity
The Gratitude Questionnaire 6 item (GQ-6) is a self-report questionnaire designed to assess individual differences in one's disposition to experience gratitude in daily life. English
  • Supplemental
 Protective Factors
The Generalized Sensory Sensitivity 8 (GSS 8) assesses whether a person has experienced various sensitivity symptoms for at least 3 months, over the past year (e.g., sensitivity to sound). English
  • Supplemental
 Sensory
The Generalized Sensory Sensitivity 8 (GSS 8) assesses whether a person has experienced various sensitivity symptoms for at least 3 months, over the past year (e.g., sensitivity to sound). Spanish
  • Supplemental
 Sensory
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) measures anxiety and depression in a general medical population of patients. English
  • Supplemental
 Anxiety
The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM D) is a multiple-item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression, and as a guide to evaluate recovery. English
  • Supplemental
 Depression
The Health Literacy (HI) questionnaire is a three-item assessment to measure literacy in Spanish-speaking and diverse English-speaking populations, in the healthcare setting. English
  • Supplemental