Measuring Pain Intensity in Older Patients: A Comparison of Five Scales

NCT04555928 | Unknown DMC

• 1 other identifier: REC.63-050-8-1
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 200
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Pain intensity is commonly measured in research and clinical settings.1 Different pain intensity domains can be assessed, depending on the specific goals of the researcher or clinician. These include current pain, and recalled average pain, least pain and worst pain in the past 24 hours or 7 days. Although average pain (in the past 24 hours or 7 days) is arguably the most common pain intensity domain assessed by researchers and clinicians, some researches indicate that in chronic pain samples, worst pain is more strongly associated with disability than average pain.2 Thus, while current pain is likely the most appropriate pain intensity domain in acute pain contexts (e.g., during medical procedures), both average and worst pain are important domains to consider assessing the chronic pain context. As such, research to understand the most reliable and valid measures for assessing these domains in different pain populations is critical for both researchers and clinicians.

Conditions

Pain Measurement; Geriatric Patients

Keywords

pain measurement, geriatric patients

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Psychometric properties (validity, reliability, and utility) of Verbal Numerical Rating Scale (VNRS) 0-10

  Verbal Numerical Rating Scale or VNRS consists of 0-10 when 0 represents no pain and 10 represents worst pain imaginable. Patients are asked to rate his/her pain verbally.

  September 2020 until August 2021

• Psychometric properties (validity, reliability, and utility) of Visual Analog Scale (VAS) 0-10

  Visual Analog Scale or VAS is a 10-cm line where the end of the left side represents no pain and the end of the right side represents worst pain imaginable. The VAS line has no number at all. Patients are asked to draw a mark on the line where it represents their pain.

  September 2020 until August 2021

• Psychometric properties (validity, reliability, and utility) of Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) 0-10

  Numerical Rating Scale or NRS is a 10-cm line with numbers 0-10 on it. Zero is on the end of the left side representing no pain while 10 is on the end of the right side representing worst pain imaginable. Each centimeter of the line has a number. Patients are asked to mark on the line.

  September 2020 until August 2021

• Psychometric properties (validity, reliability, and utility) of Faces Pain Scale (FPS) 6 faces

  Faces Pain Scale or FPS consists of 6 faces. Pain severity increases from the left to the right. Patients are asked to mark on the face representing their pain.

  September 2020 until August 2021

• Psychometric properties (validity, reliability, and utility) of Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) 6 words

  Verbal Rating Scale or VRS consists of 6 descriptors from left to right: no pain, very mild pain, mild pain, moderate pain, severe pain, very severe pain.

  September 2020 until August 2021

Interventions

No intervention OTHER

This is a prospective cohort (survey) study. It has no intervention.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

This quantitative-descriptive cross sectional study will be performed in Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand, recruiting patients with pain from different inpatient wards and outpatient clinics, including the (1) pain clinic, (2) orthopedic clinic, (3) orthopedic wards, (4) rehabilitation clinic, (5) radiotherapy clinic, (6) oncology clinic, (7) internal medicine wards, (8) surgical wards, (9) trauma ward, (10) gynecological ward and (11) private wards.

You may qualify if:

• Age ≥ 65 years old.
• Endorsing having at least some pain in the past week, from any diagnosis.
• Can speak and write in Thai, as determined by an ability to answer details about demographic information
• No motor deficits in the hands that would interfere with their ability to respond to a paper-and-pencil questionnaire

You may not qualify if:

• Lack of fluency in Thai
• Neurological disorder or psychiatric illness that would interfere with participation or ability to provide informed consent
• Refusal to participate in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Prince of Songkla University: lead

Related Publications (1)

• Jensen MP, Karoly P, Braver S. The measurement of clinical pain intensity: a comparison of six methods. Pain. 1986 Oct;27(1):117-126. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(86)90228-9.

  PMID: 3785962 BACKGROUND

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Department of Anesthesiology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 28, 2020
• First Posted: September 21, 2020
• Study Start: October 15, 2020
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2021
• Study Completion: August 1, 2021
• Last Updated: October 6, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-10