Regional differences of repeatability on visual analogue scale with experimental mechanical pain stimuli

Abstract

Pain-VAS is quite subjective as a scale, but has a tendency to assume differences in repeatability in accordance with perceived pain intensity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the repeatability of regional differences with ratings of pain-VAS. Three experimental mechanical stimuli were applied to twenty seven healthy volunteers across four sessions over four weeks within individuals. The same stimuli were also simultaneously measured in the same manner with an electric balance. The magnitude of mechanical stimuli was determined by 100 g, 300 g, and 600 g monofilaments. Standard deviations (SDs) across measurements with an electric balance showed a regular increase with stimulus magnitude, while coefficient variations (CVs) were constant in each stimulus. On the other hand, although SDs across pain-VAS measurements were significantly greater with the 300 g filament than with the 100 g and 600 g filaments, CVs showed a regular decrease in magnitude of stimulus. These results showed that the CVs of repeated measurement with electric balance were consistent regardless of stimulus intensity, in contrast, CVs of pain-VAS decreased with greater pain rating averaged by repeated measurement. These results suggest that a low rating in pain-VAS is inherently less objective, indicating poor repeatability. In contrast, a high rating in pain-VAS is more objective with better repeatability for experimental pain perception.

Keywords: Pain perception; Repeatability; Visual analogue scale.