Test-retest and interobserver reliability of quantitative sensory testing according to the protocol of the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS): a multi-centre study.
Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is an instrument to assess positive and negative sensory signs, helping to identify mechanisms underlying pathologic pain conditions. In this study, we evaluated the test-retest reliability (TR-R) and the interobserver reliability (IO-R) of QST in patients with sensory disturbances of different etiologies. In 4 centres, 60 patients (37 male and 23 female, 56.4±1.9years) with lesions or diseases of the somatosensory system were included. QST comprised 13 parameters including detection and pain thresholds for thermal and mechanical stimuli. QST was performed in the clinically most affected test area and a less or unaffected control area in a morning and an afternoon session on 2 consecutive days by examiner pairs (4 QSTs/patient). For both, TR-R and IO-R, there were high correlations (r=0.80-0.93) at the affected test area, except for wind-up ratio (TR-R: r=0.67; IO-R: r=0.56) and paradoxical heat sensations (TR-R: r=0.35; IO-R: r=0.44). Mean IO-R (r=0.83, 31% unexplained variance) was slightly lower than TR-R (r=0.86, 26% unexplained variance, P<.05); the difference in variance amounted to 5%. There were no differences between study centres. In a subgroup with an unaffected control area (n=43), reliabilities were significantly better in the test area (TR-R: r=0.86; IO-R: r=0.83) than in the control area (TR-R: r=0.79; IO-R: r=0.71, each P<.01), suggesting that disease-related systematic variance enhances reliability of QST. We conclude that standardized QST performed by trained examiners is a valuable diagnostic instrument with good test-retest and interobserver reliability within 2days. With standardized training, observer bias is much lower than random variance. Quantitative sensory testing performed by trained examiners is a valuable diagnostic instrument with good interobserver and test-retest reliability for use in patients with sensory disturbances of different etiologies to help identify mechanisms of neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain.
Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany Lehrstuhl für Neurophysiologie, CBTM, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim der Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany Klinik für Neurologie, Campus Kiel, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany Abteilung Schmerztherapie, Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany Klinik für Neurologie, Technische Universität München, Germany Klinik für Anästhesie der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany.
Christian
C
Geber
Thomas
T
Klein
Shahnaz
S
Azad
Frank
F
Birklein
Janne
J
Gierthmühlen
Volker
V
Huge
Meike
M
Lauchart
Dorothee
D
Nitzsche
Maike
M
Stengel
Michael
M
Valet
Ralf
R
Baron
Christoph
C
Maier
Thomas
T
Tölle
Rolf-Detlef
RD
Treede
D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012677:Sensation; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology
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