Sensitivity of pain rating scales in an endoscopy trial.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity of two commonly used pain-rating scales, the Visual Analog Scale and the 4-point verbal rating scale. Both are considered reliable and valid, but previous studies regarding sensitivity of rating scales have lead to different conclusions, and there is no firm agreement as to the best scale to choose.


METHODS
The sensitivity of the Visual Analog Scale and the 4-point verbal rating scale was compared by stochastic simulation. In the simulation model, we used 168 pairs of pain ratings on the Visual Analog Scale and the 4-point verbal rating scale from individuals undergoing a lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, maintaining the true relation between ratings from the same individual. We created empirical distributions mimicking 2 independent groups of pain ratings. Random samples from the 2 groups were compared by the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U test in 10,000 repetitions of a computer algorithm. By increasing the proportion of individuals with a high level of pain in one group, we increased the true difference between pain ratings and estimated a statistical power function.


RESULTS
In the present pain model with pain ratings from healthy individuals undergoing endoscopy, the Visual Analog Scale is consistently more sensitive than the four-point verbal rating scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Because each individual provided one Visual Analog Scale and one 4-point verbal rating scale rating for the same pain experience, the ability of the two scales to detect differences between groups of pain ratings could be compared. The use of a simulation model enabled estimation of a power function and reduced the probability of basing the conclusion on a chance finding.
Skovlund
Eva
E
Section of Medical Statistics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. eva.skovlund@basalmed.uio.no
Bretthauer
Michael
M
Grotmol
Tom
T
Larsen
Inger Kristin
IK
Hoff
Geir
G
D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology