• J García-López, F Domingo Vicent, Pérez A Montes, C Dürsteler, and M M Puig Riera de Conías.
• Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, IMIM-Parc de Salut del Mar, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
• Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim. 2011 May 1; 58 (5): 273-8.

ObjectiveTo compare postoperative pain intensity and incidence of adverse events when the evaluation is performed by a visual numerical scale completed by the patient (PAINOUT), or using a verbal numerical scale completed by ward nurses or the staff of the acute pain unit.MethodsFifty-two postsurgical patients of both sexes (age range 31-80 years) admitted to the general surgery ward were sequentially recruited and evaluated on postoperative day 1. All patients were assessed using both questionnaires, which measure postoperative outcomes using scales of 0 to 10; values > or =4 were considered clinically relevant. The test and Cohen coefficient were used for statistical analysis.ResultsUsing the PAINOUT questionnaire, the mean maximum intensity of referred pain was 5.40 (range, 0-10) and the minimum intensity was 1.83 (range, 0-5). Mean values obtained with the verbal numerical scales used by staff on the ward and in the pain clinic were 3.76 (range, 0-10) and 0.97 (range, 0-5), respectively. The differences between the 2 methods of pain assessment were statistically (P = .006) and clinically significant. When evaluating nausea with PAINOUT questionnaire, all patients provided a response; in 88.5% the intensity was less than 4. Six patients reported nausea on the PAINOUT but not in the UDA questionnaire. Moreover, 61% of patients reported drowsiness/sedation in PAINOUT instrument, whereas none reported that effect on the verbal scale.ConclusionsThe intensity of pain and adverse events is significantly higher when the patient evaluates and records its intensity on visual numerical scales compared with verbal numerical scales.

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