title: Visual analog scales for assessing surgical pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Four visual analog scales were constructed to assess sensory and affective components of operative pain. The Surgical Pain Scales (SPS) measure pain while at rest, pain during normal activities, pain during work or exercise, and pain unpleasantness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal data from 2,164 patients in a randomized trial of laparoscopic versus open hernia repair established the reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of the SPS. Correlations and t-tests were used to determine their psychometric properties compared with the SF-36 health status instrument.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.95 for the sensory scales and 0.94 for the unpleasantness rating confirmed that the SPS produced reliable measurements. Correlations ranging from 0.44 to 0.60 between the visual analog scales and the bodily pain dimension on the SF-36 and significant differences between SPS levels for patients requiring more and less time to resume normal activities (p< or =0.015 to p< or =0.002) supported the validity of the scales. Clinical responsiveness was demonstrated by a 33.5-mm reduction (standard error = 1.4 mm) in the mean rating on a 150-mm scale measuring pain during normal activities for patients reporting postoperative improvement on the bodily pain dimension (p< or =0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Surgical Pain Scales demonstrated excellent psychometric properties in this study population. The SPS can be used to compare pain levels between groups at a single point in time or to track change for individual patients over time or after operations. Individualized pain management interventions can be tailored based on the sensory and effective ratings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Chih-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: A Simon
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Pickard
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giobbie-Hurder
authors.forename: Donald D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jonasson
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fitzgibbons
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Neumayer
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D015444:Exercise; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012146:Rest; D012677:Sensation; D013997:Time Factors; D014937:Work