J Rheumatol
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Rheumatologists often deal with patients' pain, as commonly measured by clinical scales. However, no published study in the last 25 years has explored patient preferences for the 2 most frequently used clinical scales the verbal rating scale (VRS) and the visual analog scale (VAS). We (1) evaluated patient preferences for the 10 cm horizontal VAS versus the 5 point VRS and identified associated reasons for their preferences; and (2) validated the test-retest reliability and construct validity of these scales. ⋯ Both scales are valid measures of pain intensity. The choice should depend on the setting, the clinician's goal, and the patient's level of education. Patient preference is central to better physician-patient communication.
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To assess the determinants and responsiveness of the Norwegian version of the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) in patients with early juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and to compare health status in patients and controls. ⋯ The CHQ discriminated between patients with early JIA and controls. The most important determinants of the CHQ physical summary score were the child's pain, morning stiffness, CHAQ, ESR, overall well-being, and physician's global assessment of disease activity. The CHQ was sensitive to clinical changes in children with JIA.