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. 2015 Nov-Dec;31(6):1527-32.
doi: 10.12669/pjms.316.8269.

Is it possible to objectify the visual pain scale?

Mehmet Ergin  1 , Abdullah Sadik Girisgin  2 , Zerrin Defne Dundar  3 , Goknil Saniye Calik  4 , Izzetin Ertas  5 , Mehmet Taskin Egici  6
Affiliations

Is it possible to objectify the visual pain scale?

Mehmet Ergin et al. Pak J Med Sci. 2015 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: To test our hypothesis that a new modified VAS (mVAS) is superior and more objective than VAS in evaluating pain perception and treatment response between genders who have renal colic pain.

Methods: The individuals in patient and control groups were first asked to mark the pain perceived during access of IV line (VASIV score). Then the patients with renal colic were asked to mark the pain they experienced before treatment (VASRC score) and at 15 and 30 minutes after the administration of the first analgesic drug. The modified VAS scores (mVAS score) were obtained by subtracting the VASIV score from VASRC score.

Results: When VAS was used, the female patients had significantly higher level of pain at 0, 15, and 30(th) minutes than men (p = 0.012, p = 0.001, and p = 0.003, respectively). However, there was not any significant difference at 0 and 30(th) min between sexes while female patients had significantly higher level of pain scores only at 15(th) minute according to mVAS scores (p = 0.027).

Conclusion: We think that the mVAS is superior and more objective than VAS in evaluating pain perception and abolished the difference in the perceived level of pain due to gender.

Keywords: Analgesia/pain control; Clinical management; Emergency department management; Renal colic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest: The authors have no commercial associations or sources of support that might pose a conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig.1
Fig.1
Comparison of VASIV scores in the patient and control groups*.
Fig.2
Fig.2
Comparison of VASIV and VASRC scores in the patient group*.
Fig.3
Fig.3
The changes in the VASRC scores for patient group at 0, 15 and 30th min*.
Fig.4
Fig.4
The changes in the mVAS scores for patient group at 0, 15 and 30th min*.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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