title: Visual analog scales: do they have a role in the measurement of preferences for health states?
abstract: Visual analog scales (VASs) have long been used as a method of measuring preferences for health outcomes. They are easy and inexpensive to implement, can be administered quickly, and lend themselves to self-completion. Over time, however, disturbing questions have emerged concerning the validity of the VAS approach. This article reviews briefly the history, theory, practice, problems, and advantages of VASs; presents some suggestions to improve the validity of VASs; and recommends a limited but useful role for VASs in the process of measuring preferences for health states.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Torrance
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feeny
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Furlong
mesh_terms: D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome