Marianne Jensen Hjermstad|Peter Fayers|Dagny Faksvåg Haugen|Augusto Caraceni|G W Hanks|Jon H. Loge|Robin L. Fainsinger|Nina Aass|Stein Kaasa
Studies Comparing Numerical Rating Scales, Verbal Rating Scales, and Visual Analogue Scales for Assessment of Pain Intensity in Adults: A Systematic Literature Review
Oslo University Hospital|Norwegian University of Science and Technology|University of Aberdeen|Norwegian University of Science and Technology|Haukeland University Hospital|Norwegian University of Science and Technology|Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori|At Bristol|Oslo University Hospital|Norwegian University of Science and Technology|University of Alberta|Oslo University Hospital|University of Oslo|St Olav's University Hospital|Norwegian University of Science and Technology
h2abstracth2h3contexth3 use unidimensional pain scales numerical rating scale nrs verbal rating scale vrs visual analogue scale vas recommended assessment pain intensity pi literature review studies specifically comparing nrs vrs andor vas unidimensional selfreport pi performed part work european palliative care research collaborative pain assessment h3objectivesh3 investigate use performance unidimensional pain scales specific emphasis nrss h3methodsh3 systematic search performed including citations april 2010 abstracts evaluated two persons according specified criteria h3resultsh3 fiftyfour 239 papers included postoperative pi frequently studied six studies cancer eight versions nrs nrs6 nrs101 used 37 studies total 41 nrss tested twentyfour different descriptors 15 nrss used anchor extremes compared vas vrs nrss better compliance 15 19 studies reporting recommended tool 11 studies basis higher compliance rates better responsiveness ease use good applicability relative vasvrs twentynine studies gave preference many studies showed wide distributions nrs scores within category vrss overall nrs vas scores corresponded exceptions systematically higher vas scores h3conclusionh3 nrss applicable unidimensional assessment pi settings whether variability anchors response options directly influences numerical scores needs empirically tested aid work toward consensusbased standardized measure