Showing papers on "Visual analogue scale published in 1987"
TL;DR: The SF‐MPQ shows promise as a useful tool in situations in which the standard MPQ takes too long to administer, yet qualitative information is desired and the PPI and VAS are inadequate.
Abstract: A short form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) has been developed. The main component of the SF-MPQ consists of 15 descriptors (11 sensory; 4 affective) which are rated on an intensity scale as 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate or 3 = severe. Three pain scores are derived from the sum of the intensity rank values of the words chosen for sensory, affective and total descriptors. The SF-MPQ also includes the Present Pain Intensity (PPI) index of the standard MPQ and a visual analogue scale (VAS). The SF-MPQ scores obtained from patients in post-surgical and obstetrical wards and physiotherapy and dental departments were compared to the scores obtained with the standard MPQ. The correlations were consistently high and significant. The SF-MPQ was also shown to be sufficiently sensitive to demonstrate differences due to treatment at statistical levels comparable to those obtained with the standard form. The SF-MPQ shows promise as a useful tool in situations in which the standard MPQ takes too long to administer, yet qualitative information is desired and the PPI and VAS are inadequate.
3,948 citations
TL;DR: Different types of pain patients used visual analogue scales to rate their level of pain sensation intensity and degree of unpleasantness associated with pain experienced at its maximum, usual, and minimum intensity, and these results provide evidence that the affective dimension of different types of clinical pain is powerfully and differentially influenced by psychological contextual factors.
Abstract: Different types of pain patients used visual analogue scales (VAS) to rate their level of pain sensation intensity (VAS sensory) and degree of unpleasantness (VAS affective) associated with pain experienced at its maximum, usual, and minimum intensity. Women used the same VAS to rate their labor pain during early, active, and transition phases of stage I and in pushing (stage II). Consistent with the hypothesis that the affective dimension of clinical pain can be selectively augmented by perceived degree of threat to health or life, cancer pain patients and chronic pain patients gave higher VAS affective ratings as compared to VAS sensory ratings of their clinical pain, whereas labor patients and patients exposed to experimental pain gave lower VAS affective ratings compared to their VAS sensory ratings of pain. Affective VAS but not sensory VAS ratings of pain were considerably reduced when women in labor focused on the birth of the child as compared to when they focused on their pain. The results underscore the importance of utilizing separate measures of the sensory intensity versus the affective dimension of clinical pain and provide evidence that the affective dimension of different types of clinical pain is powerfully and differentially influenced by psychological contextual factors.
396 citations
TL;DR: The Memorial Pain Assessment Card can distinguish pain intensity from pain relief and from general psychological distress, and it can provide multidimensional assessment that is practically equivalent to the full assessment battery.
Abstract: Effective evaluation and treatment of cancer pain require valid and independent measurement of pain intensity, pain relief, and psychological distress. The Memorial Pain Assessment Card (MPAC) is a simple instrument designed to provide rapid evaluation of these subjective experiences. On the 8.5 by 11 inch card are printed the eight pain intensity descriptors, and three visual analog scales which measure pain intensity, pain relief, and mood. Experienced patients can complete it in less than 20 seconds. The authors administered the MPAC to 50 hospitalized cancer patients within 48 hours of referral to the Pain Service for inadequate pain control, together with standard measures: The McGill Pain Questionnaire, Profile of Mood States, Hamilton Depression Scale, and Zung Anxiety Scale. Correlational and multiple regression analyses revealed that the MPAC can distinguish pain intensity from pain relief and from general psychological distress, and it can provide multidimensional assessment that is practically equivalent to the full assessment battery. We conclude that the MPAC is valid and effective for clinical use, and recommend it for the assessment of individual patients, and as an outcome measure in clinical trials.
305 citations
TL;DR: All pain‐rating scales were correlated with each other and they showed a good internal consistency, so any of the now‐employed scales can be used in clinical analgesic studies in children on the condition that the child has comprehended the use of the scale during the preoperative visit.
Abstract: There are several studies on the correlation of various pain-rating scales in adults but few such studies have been done on children. To gain information on the correlation of self-reporting pain scales (one verbal and two visual analog scales) with each other and with a scale based on behavioral assessment, we analyzed retrospectively the pain evaluations of 141 pediatric patients participating in our analgesic studies. Eighty-two patients were male and 59 were female. The ages ranged from 1.6 to 17.6 years. The patients were divided into three age groups. All pain-rating scales were correlated (P < 0.001) with each other and they showed a good internal consistency. There were no differences in correlation coefficients between the age groups and the two sexes. Accordingly, any of the now-employed scales can be used in clinical analgesic studies in children on the condition that the child has comprehended the use of the scale during the preoperative visit.
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1987) 42, 137–141; doi:10.1038/clpt.1987.123
190 citations
TL;DR: The similar nociceptive stimulus-VAS response functions and consistent use of VAS to rate experimental and clinical pain provide a standardized procedure, whereby intensities of different types of pain can be accurately compared.
Abstract: :Myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD) patients, pain-free control subjects, and low back patients from a previous study were compared for visual analogue scale (VAS) responses to experimental pain (43–51°C temperatures) and clinical pain. MPD, low back pain, and control groups' nociceptive temp
154 citations
TL;DR: The findings indicate that the pain of BMS is more severe than has previously been suggested and that the severity of this pain may explain some of the personality changes which occur in the BMS subjects.
Abstract: The McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) were administered to 72 subjects with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) who were also requested to match the levels of their clinical pain to line lengths on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and to experimentally induced warm and painful thermal stimuli. The responses of 102 toothache pain subjects and 43 asymptomatic age- and sex-matched control subjects were used to compare the responses of the BMS subjects on the MPQ and MMPI, respectively. The results indicated that BMS pain is quantitatively similar to, but qualitatively different from, toothache pain, that self-reports of BMS pain appear to be valid, that when compared to the asymptomatic control subjects, BMS subjects show elevations in certain personality characteristics which are similar to those seen in other chronic pain patients, and that these personality disturbances tend to increase with increased pain. Therefore, our findings indicate that the pain of BMS is more severe than has previously been suggested and that the severity of this pain may explain some of the personality changes which occur in the BMS subjects.
148 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a non-visual analogue scale has been devised for pain measurement, which was found to give values for pain that correlated well with values given using the visual scale and was more easily understood.
Abstract: Because of difficulties encountered with patient compliance using the standard visual analogue scale, a new nonvisual analogue scale has been devised for pain measurement The new scale was found to give values for pain that correlated well with values given using the visual scale and was found to be more easily understood The scale was considered to be simpler and more reliable than the visual scale heretofore in use
124 citations
TL;DR: The ADL pain scale was more sensitive to problems in ADL than were the ADL scales for difficulty and dissatisfaction, and was correlated significantly with one another and with other measures of disease status.
Abstract: Pain was assessed quantitatively as a component of routine visits of 385 outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis, using a pain scale based on activities of daily living (ADL) and a visual analog scale. The ADL pain scale met psychometric criteria for validity and reliability. Scores on the 2 pain scales were correlated significantly with one another and with other measures of disease status, including joint count, grip strength, walking time, button test, morning stiffness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, global self-assessment, ADL difficulty, and ADL dissatisfaction scales. Correlations of ADL pain scale scores with other measures were higher than were correlations of visual analog scale scores with other measures, in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Significantly more patients completed the ADL pain scale without assistance than the number of those who completed the visual analog pain scale. The ADL pain scale was more sensitive to problems in ADL than were the ADL scales for difficulty and dissatisfaction. The ADL and visual analog pain scales appear to provide useful data for quantitative assessment of pain in the routine care of rheumatoid arthritis patients.
112 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that previous studies that have relied on retrospective assessments of labor pain may be invalid.
Abstract: Recently, several authors have questioned the reliability and validity of relying on retrospective assessment of labor pain. Many studies designed to determine the relationships between psychosocial and demographic factors and pain intensity during labor have relied on such measurements. The purpose of this prospective study was to determine if primiparas and multiparas can accurately remember the pain of labor. Fifty primiparas and 88 multiparas participated in the study. Prospective assessment of in-labor pain was performed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in 3 phases of labor. Retrospective assessment of labor pain was performed 2 days post partum using the VAS. Results showed that there were significant differences between the amount of actual pain reported and the amount of pain and discomfort remembered by both primiparas and multiparas. The mean rating for remembered discomfort was higher than for remembered pain. The subjects tended to deflate the intensity of their labor pain. The results suggest that previous studies that have relied on retrospective assessments of labor pain may be invalid.
92 citations
TL;DR: The translation of the MPQ into German was successful, and its validity could be shown: it differentiated acute, short lasting pain as well as the visual analogue and the verbal rating scales.
Abstract: The adjectives used in the McGill Pain Questionnaire were translated into German. Nine of the 76 adjectives could not be translated satisfactorily. Accordingly, 10 new German adjectives were added by 22 physicians and psychologists, who were also asked to judge the grouping of the words and how adequately they express pain. Concordance of grouping was reached by more than 82% of the raters. The adjectives were assigned to 20 groups. In a next step 80 subjects assessed the words in each group on a visual analogue scale (VAS) with respect to intensity: for 3 of the 20 groups we found no difference in intensity between the adjectives within a group. They were not retained in the final version tested. Additionally each group was reduced to 3 adjectives by dropping the least discriminating words of each group; 17 groups of 3 words each were retained. In a third step a comparably composed group of 82 subjects rated the words in each group on VAS with respect to intensity: for each of the 17 triads there was a significant overall difference between the 3 adjectives on the VAS. In all but 4 of the 17 triads all 3 possible pairwise differences were significant as well. In spite of the significant differences of mean values there was considerable disagreement in individual intensity rankings of the 3 adjectives within the 17 groups. The validity of the German language (Berne) pain questionnaire (BPQ) was tested together with a verbal rating scale (VRS) and a VAS in a double-blind, complete cross-over study. A low osmolar (LO), a high osmolar (conventional) (HO) compound and 0.9% NaCl (placebo) (PL) were injected intra-arterially in patients with arteriovascular disease. We expected the LO compound to cause much less pain than the HO compound. The 3 conditions HO, LO and PL had significantly different effects on all 4 scales: VAS, VRS, RaW (scale of rank of words), and NoW (scale of number of words). The pairwise comparisons of PL with HO and LO resulted in significant differences also. The square of the correlation r for VAS/VRS was 0.64, for RaW/NoW 0.61, all other possible correlations were not significant. Our conclusions are: the translation of the MPQ into German was successful, and its validity could be shown. In our experiment, it differentiated acute, short lasting pain as well as the visual analogue and the verbal rating scales. The BPQ is a tool worth being examined in the laboratory and in studies of clinical pain syndromes.
63 citations
TL;DR: This study provides a comparison of two clinical regimens for controlling pain in children for the first 48 h alter orthopedic surgery: oral morphine, every 4 h, and injected meperidine (Demerol), every 3–4 h.
Abstract: This study provides a comparison of two clinical regimens for controlling pain in children for the first 48 h after orthopedic surgery: oral morphine, every 4 h, and injected meperidine (Demerol), every 3-4 h pro re nata. Using Visual Analogue Scale, 25 children between the ages of 7 and 17 years of age, who were randomly divided into two groups, rated the severity of their pain every 1-3 h from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Each child's parents and attending nurse also rated the child's pain. The morphine group had a significantly higher number of pain-free children on both day 1 and day 2.
TL;DR: The TENS was approximately as effective as acetaminophen (300-600 mg) with codeine but had no side effects but may be indicated for patients who cannot be given medications.
Abstract: A double-blind controlled analgesic study was undertaken in out-patients suffering acute traumatic pain. One hundred patients completed the study and were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, each receiving either functioning transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators (TENS), placebo TENS, acetaminophen with codeine and a functioning TENS, or acetaminophen with codeine and a placebo TENS. Pain was assessed prior to treatment, at 48 hours, and at one month using a visual analog scale. A statistically significant difference in pain relief occurred between the placebo and functioning TENS groups. The TENS was approximately as effective as acetaminophen (300–600 mg) with codeine (30–60 mg) but had no side effects. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators have been shown to be effective in the management of acute traumatic pain and may be indicated for patients who cannot be given medications.
TL;DR: Both self‐rating of depressive symptomatology and pain drawings can be of some help in the difficult clinical delineation between patients with idiopathic and neurogenic pain syndromes, respectively, but used as single measures, both methods have low discriminative power.
Abstract: The frequency of depressive symptomatology as estimated by means of self-rating on a visual analogue scale and the pain drawings by patients were compared between healthy volunteers, patients with neurogenic pain syndromes and patients with idiopathic pain syndromes. All patients with chronic pain syndromes had significantly more depressive symptomatology than the healthy volunteers. Patients with idiopathic pain syndromes had significantly more inhibition symptoms — memory disturbances and concentration difficulties — than patients with neurogenic pain syndromes. In the pain drawings, estimated by means of the technique suggested by Margolis et al. [10], the idiopathic pain patients had significantly higher scores on both raw scores and weighted body surface scores than the patients with neurogenic pain syndromes. Thus, both self-rating of depressive symptomatology and pain drawings can be of some help in the difficult clinical delineation between patients with idiopathic and neurogenic pain syndromes, respectively, but used as single measures, both methods have low discriminative power.
TL;DR: No treatment‐induced alterations in vital values were experienced and there were no significant differences between the two analgesic regimens in respect of linear analogue pain scores, verbal pain‐relief scores, amount of morphine used or side‐effects.
Abstract: Thirty-six patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery were included in a prospective randomized controlled study to compare the effects of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and a standard intramuscular/intravenous treatment (conventional analgesia, CA) of postoperative pain. Morphine was used in both groups. There were no significant differences between the two analgesic regimens in respect of linear analogue pain scores, verbal pain-relief scores, amount of morphine used or side-effects. No treatment-induced alterations in vital values were experienced.
TL;DR: The higher the degree of pain, the higher the concomitant symptoms, and the greater reduction in hours of sleep and standing are found.
Abstract: Eighty-five patients suffering from advanced cancer pain were asked to attribute a 'definite value' to 5 key words describing pain by rating them on a visual analogue scale (VAS). The score which the patient attributed to each key word was then correlated with 9 variables obtained through patient monitoring files (sex, age, educational background, financial situation, integrated pain score, number of concomitant symptoms, hours of sleep and standing, performance status). The visual analogue rating of pain description was not related to the variables examined. However, important correlations were found: the higher the degree of pain, the higher the concomitant symptoms, and the greater reduction in hours of sleep and standing.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Dicl ofenac gave significantly longer pain relief than pethidine or placebo, and post-operative bowel paralysis tended to be shorter with diclofenac.
Abstract: A double-blind study was performed in 63 patients to compare diclofenac (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), pethidine and placebo with regard to efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of pain after abdominal hysterectomy. The compounds were injected post-operatively and the duration of pain relief was chosen as the parameter of efficacy. Pain intensity was measured on a visual analogue scale by the patient and according to a six-point scale by the investigator. Diclofenac gave significantly longer pain relief than pethidine or placebo. Few side-effects were reported after diclofenac and placebo, and post-operative bowel paralysis tended to be shorter with diclofenac.
TL;DR: Since diclofenac has an inhibitory action on prostaglandin synthesis prophylactic intramuscular administration may have reduced the inflammatory process before synthesis of prostaglandsins was activated, it is possible that this action produced more effective pain relief than either postoperative administration or placebo.
Abstract: We have treated ninety-five patients undergoing surgical removal of third molar with diclofenac or placebo, administered double-blind either pre- or postoperatively. Postoperative pain was recorded hourly for the first 8 h using a 100 mm visual analogue scale. Preoperative administration of diclofenac produced more effective pain relief than either postoperative administration or placebo. Since diclofenac has an inhibitory action on prostaglandin synthesis prophylactic intramuscular administration may have reduced the inflammatory process before synthesis of prostaglandins was activated.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It is concluded that acupuncture may be a realistic alternative to other, conventional stomatognathic treatment for some patients with long lasting chronic facial pain.
Abstract: Ten patients with chronic facial pain and long lasting mandibular dysfunction symptoms were treated with acupuncture. All patients, two men and eight women aged between 39 and 71 years (mean = 51.0 years), exhibited a complex pain symptomatology with, basically, daily constant pain with an average duration of 13 years. The patients had resisted all previous conventional stomatognathic treatment. The symptoms and signs were evaluated before and immediately after treatment and at follow-ups three and seven months later. Four methods were used for evaluating the effect of the treatment. Subjective evaluation according to a 6-graded verbal scale. Clinical dysfunction index according to Helkimo (1974). Intensity of pain according to a visual analogue scale (VAS-scale, Pilowsky & Kaufman, 1965). Medicine consumption. Six to eight acupuncture treatments were given at one week intervals. The acupuncture points were stimulated both manually and electrically for 30 minutes with a frequency of approximately 2-3 Hz and 20-30 mA. All patients reported some degree of subjectively experienced improvement. Four felt much better and six somewhat better. At the follow-ups the same reports were given with the exception for one patient who reported unchanged discomfort. The objective criteria used for assessment of a favourable response to treatment were fulfilled by three patients immediately after treatment and at 3, 7 and 14 months after treatment. No significant negative effects of the treatment were recorded. It is concluded that acupuncture may be a realistic alternative to other, conventional stomatognathic treatment for some patients with long lasting chronic facial pain.
TL;DR: A new fixed-point scale for the self-recording of pain intensity with steps operationally linked to behavioral events and with additional monitoring of pain duration--termed the "duration-intensity-behavior scale" (DIBS)-- appears to be preferable for the monitoring of gastrointestinal pain.
Abstract: Little attention has been paid to methodological aspects in the recording of gastrointestinal symptoms. We compared a new fixed-point scale for the self-recording of pain intensity with steps operationally linked to behavioral events and with additional monitoring of pain duration--termed the "duration-intensity-behavior scale" (DIBS)--with the visual analogue scale (VAS) in 32 patients with nonulcer dyspepsia. After randomization, the patients either recorded pain intensity (VAS) or pain intensity and duration (DIBS) four times daily during a 4-week period for 1 preliminary week without medication, followed by 3 weeks of antacid treatment. For both scales there was a high degree of compliance, and they seemed equally reliable and sensitive to changes in pain experience. Since DIBS yields more clinically useful information, this scale appears to be preferable for the monitoring of gastrointestinal pain.
TL;DR: Chronic solar exposure was not a likely cause of sebaceous gland hyperplasia and senile comedones and neither of these lesions was related to either the degree of solar elastotic change or the skin type with regard to tanning ability.
Abstract: SUMMARY
Two hundred and eighty-six patients over the age of 65 (age range 65–102, mean age 82 years), who were hospitalized in geriatric wards, were examined clinically for the presence of sebaceous gland hyperplasia and senile comedones. The degree of solar elastotic change present was scored on a visual analogue scale. The prevalence rate of sebaceous gland hyperplasia and of senile comedones was found to be 26% in each case. Approximately one third of patients had both lesions. Neither of these lesions was related to either the degree of solar elastotic change or the skin type with regard to tanning ability. It was concluded that chronic solar exposure was not a likely cause of these common conditions.
TL;DR: A 5-year trial of acupuncture therapy in the Finnish NHS is surveyed and acupuncture was less effective in the elderly, in patients with a psychiatric history, on high doses of analgesics, and in those with longstanding pain.
Abstract: A 5-year trial of acupuncture therapy in the Finnish NHS is surveyed. In total 348 patients attending Halikko Health Centre in SW Finland were treated with needle-stimulation for a wide variety of chronic pain syndromes. The mean number of acupuncture sessions was 5 in the primary series and 41% of patients received more than one series. An analysis of results showed significant relief of pain (more than 40% reduction on the visual analogue scale) in myofascial syndromes affecting the head, neck, shoulder and arm. Osteoarthrosis of major joints, and backache, responded less favourably. In total 65% of those patients who had taken analgesics before acupuncture therapy, either stopped totally or reduced their dose considerably. Those with headache could significantly more often reduce their drug intake than those with arthritis or osteoarthrosis. More results and discussion will be published in part II later in this Journal.
TL;DR: TENS appears to be a nonadditive alternative to morphine in burn patients for reduction of pain associated with enzymatic debridement.
Abstract: Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) was found to be as effective as morphine in reducing the pain associated with enzymatic debridement in burn patients. Twenty-four patients who were scheduled for Travase enzymatic debridement were randomly assigned to receive TENS or morphine for pain relief immediately following debridement. Patients reported their pain level on both a visual analogue scale and a verbal categorical scale at 15-minute intervals during the first hour and at hourly intervals through four hours after Travase application. There was no significant difference in the pain reported between the TENS and morphine groups. A statistical difference in pain report was found (ANOVA) over time, but no statistical difference was shown by group assignment. TENS appears to be a nonadditive alternative to morphine in burn patients for reduction of pain associated with enzymatic debridement.
TL;DR: Self-esteem was not significantly affected by tumour grade or stage, or by the extent to which patients felt disabled by the symptoms and side effects of their disease and treatment, in patients with newly diagnosed early breast cancer.
Abstract: In assessing the quality of life of patients with cancer. :in important. though largely ignored. variable is self-esteem. The development of an instrument to measure self-esteem, using visual analogue scales, is described. This instrument was administered to 170 patients with newly diagnosed early breast cancer. Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma three months and one year alter diagnosis. The instrument was acceptable to patients; internal consistency and test-retest reliability data are reported. Self-esteem scores were inversely correlated with depression and trait anxiety scores, and positively correlated with internal locus of control. Self-esteem was not significantly affected by tumour grade or stage. or by the extent to which patients felt disabled by the symptoms and side effects of their disease and treatment. The implications of these findings are discussed.
TL;DR: It was concluded that there is no support for the claim that the Conscious Exaggeration scale can detect deception with the object of financial gain among chronic pain patients involved in litigation.
TL;DR: The results have indicated that placebo-controlled studies are still needed in this field of research, and clomipramine and mianserin were significantly superior to placebo in the topographical pain subgroup with headache using area under the improvement curves as criteria.
Abstract: In the present study of 253 patients with chronic pain syndrome we have made a multidimensional approach. All patients have been included in the study independent of coexisting states of anxiety or depression. We included criteria for diagnosis, duration, generability and intensity of pain, anxiety and depression, psychosocial stressors and social functioning. Using this system we have evaluated the antipain effectiveness of clomipramine and mianserin in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. By use of the Melancholia Scale 16 patients (6%) had a major depression, and by use of the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, 72 patients (28%) had a generalized anxiety disorder. The results showed no statistically significant difference between the three treatments, when using a visual analogue scale (VAS 10 cm with cut-off score 2 cm) for severity of pains as outcome criteria or the results of VAS and Global Clinical Impression Scale using the criteria of reduction of 50% or more between the pretreatment and posttreatment scores. By use of all the assessments it is possible to make an improvement curve for each patient expressed by the area under the curve, and not even there we found a difference between the three treatments. Clomipramine and mianserin were significantly superior to placebo in the topographical pain subgroup with headache using area under the improvement curves as criteria (p less than 0.05). When the 60-item General Health Questionnaire was used to identify minor psychiatric morbidity 44% was found. We can use this as a measure of quality of life. Our results have indicated that placebo-controlled studies are still needed in this field of research.
TL;DR: Differences between the two groups were not statistically significant, except for nasal symptoms in three cases as assessed by the visual analogue scale in one centre (better relief in the group given 120 mg terfenadine once daily).
Abstract: This double-blind, randomized multi-centre study was designed to compare efficacy and tolerability of 120 mg terfenadine taken once daily (in the morning) with the established regimen of 60 mg terfenadine taken twice daily in the treatment of seasonal rhinitis. Two comparable groups, a total of 191 hay fever patients, were treated for 1 week. Symptom severity was assessed by the investigators before and at the end of the treatment (visual analogue scale), and daily by the patient (four-point rating scale). All symptoms improved to a similar degree in both groups. Differences between the two groups were not statistically significant, except for nasal symptoms in three cases as assessed by the visual analogue scale in one centre (better relief in the group given 120 mg terfenadine once daily). Tolerability was good and similar in both groups. The data presented show that in the treatment of hay fever 120 mg terfenadine given once daily is an effective, convenient and well tolerated alternative to the regimen of 60 mg terfenadine given twice daily.
TL;DR: The methodology of this assessment needs to be further optimized, and the quality of life parameters need to be correlated with hemodynamics, exercise capacity, morbidity, and mortality.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: During the period of treatment and observation lasting 2 weeks, all the assessment criteria showed a more rapid regression in the symptoms and signs of the disorder on treatment with the active product.
Abstract: The efficacy of Mobilat ointment (100 g contain: Extract. suprarenale 1.0 g, Mucopolysaccharide-polysulfate 0.2 g, salicylic acid 2.0 g) in the treatment of acute lateral distortions of the ankle was tested in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double blind study. The criteria used for the assessment of the progress of healing were the pressure distribution during walking, the swelling of the injured region and the evaluation of pain using a visual analogue scale. During the period of treatment and observation lasting 2 weeks, all the assessment criteria showed a more rapid regression in the symptoms and signs of the disorder on treatment with the active product. The differences were statistically significant for all the criteria assessed.
TL;DR: The measurement of pain relief by the visual analogue scale, the determination of the Ritchie index and the duration of morning stiffness, plus patient assessment of global response should be enough to detect clinical activity of the drug in RA.
Abstract: Inflammation has long been recognised as notoriously difficult to measure both in clinical practice and in the laboratory. Of all the cardinal features of inflammation, pain relief is really what the patients want, and among disabled persons, rheumatic patients are the only ones who must cope with chronic pain. The rheumatologist, however, is also interested in other parameters that are thought to reflect improvement of the inflammatory process.The methods used to clinically assess rheumatoid arthritis (RA) should share the following four parameters: validity, sensitivity, reliability and simplicity. Unfortunately, at present, no single ideal method is capable of accurately reflecting disease activity in RA. The measurement of pain relief by the visual analogue scale, the determination of the Ritchie index and the duration of morning stiffness, plus patient assessment of global response should be enough to detect clinical activity of the drug in RA.If we are working with slow-acting drugs or so-called dis...
TL;DR: No differences in pain intensity were found between patients randomized to fixed-interval schedules of oral narcotic analgesics and those randomized to as-needed schedules, and methodologic and measurement problems involved in the study of pain and its management were addressed.