Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology
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Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol · Feb 1989
Comparative StudyAcceptability of visual analogue scales in the clinical setting: a comparison with verbal rating scales in postoperative pain.
Pain is the clinical symptom most difficult to evaluate. Although clinical trials methodology have permitted assessment of pain objectively through rating scales, these strategies have not been used in clinical setting. The present study was undertaken to determine if visual analogue scales could be useful in the measurement of postoperative pain in usual medical practice. ⋯ The VAS of patients and researchers were also found to be highly correlated (p less than 0.001). When values of each group were compared by pain intensity a total agreement of VAS scores at low pain level could be established, but differences were found at high pain intensity levels, suggesting that physicians scored lower than patients when pain was severe to unbearable. It is concluded that VAS could be a reliable method to assess pain in clinical setting.