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 clinical 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 Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ) is a 24 item self-report measure that examines experiences with potentially traumatic events such as crime, general disaster, and sexual and physical assault using a yes/no format. English
  • Supplemental
 Trauma/PTSD
The Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) 5 is a global mental status test that can either be administered over the telephone or face-to-face. English
  • Supplemental
The Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) is used as a clinical and research tool to obtain a variety of quantitative estimates of marijuana, cigarette, and other drug use over a 7-day period. English
  • Supplemental
 Substance Use
The Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) 90 days is used as a clinical and research tool to obtain a variety of quantitative estimates of marijuana, cigarette, and other drug use over a 90-day period. English
  • Supplemental
 Substance Use
The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a neuropsychological assessment to indicate speed of cognitive processing and executive functioning. English
  • Supplemental
 Cognitive Function
The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) is a 12-item questionnaire that quantifies fear of movement or (re)injury. English
  • Supplemental
 Fear of Pain
The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) is a 12-item questionnaire that quantifies fear of movement or (re)injury. Spanish
  • Supplemental
 Fear of Pain
The Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ) is a comprehensive questionnaire that covers all usability factors of telehealth, including usefulness, ease of use, effectiveness, reliability, and satisfaction. English
  • Supplemental
The Visual Analogue Fatigue Scale (VAFS) consists of 18 items relating to the subjective experience of fatigue. English
  • Supplemental
 Fatigue
The Working Alliance Inventory Form C (WAI-C) assesses the strength and dimensions of the alliance. English
  • Supplemental
 Satisfaction
The Working Alliance Inventory Short Form (WAI-SF) assesses the strength and dimensions of the alliance. English
  • Supplemental
 Satisfaction
The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) measures health and disability across cultures. English
  • Supplemental
 Disability
The World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief with Demographics and Administration Questions (WHOQOL-BREF) assesses quality of life (QOL) within the context of an individual's culture, value systems, personal goals, standards and concerns. English
  • Supplemental
 Quality of Life
The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) evaluates the condition of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and hip, including pain, stiffness, and physical functioning of the joints. English, Spanish
  • Supplemental
 Arthritis
The Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale is a tool that uses a combination of faces, numbers, and words to help a person effectively communicate the severity of their physical pain. English
  • Supplemental
 Pain Intensity