Articles: pain-measurement.
-
The objective of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive overview of the measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used to assess resilience in individuals with musculoskeletal and rheumatic conditions. ⋯ Although BRCS, RS-18, CD-RISC, and PRS have been used to evaluate resilience in individuals with musculoskeletal and rheumatic conditions, the current evidence only supports the use of PRS and CD-RISC in this population. Further methodological studies are therefore needed and should prioritize the assessment of reliability and responsiveness.
-
Many patients suffer from abdominal and thoracic pain syndromes secondary to numerous underlying etiologies. Chronic abdominal and thoracic pain can be difficult to treat and often refractory to conservative management. In this systematic literature review, we evaluate the current literature to assess radiofrequency ablation's (RFA) efficacy for treating these debilitating chronic pain conditions in the thoracic and abdominal regions. ⋯ A systematic review of the literature supports RFA as a viable option for managing abdominal and thoracic pain. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the efficacy of the various RFA modalities to ensure RFA is the source of pain relief as a large body of the current literature focuses only on observational studies.
-
Reliability is a topic in health science in which a critical appraisal of the magnitudes of the measurements is often left aside to favour a formulaic analysis. Furthermore, the relationship between clinical relevance and reliability of measurements is often overlooked. In this context, the aim of the present article is to provide an overview of the design and analysis of reliability studies, the interpretation of the reliability of measurements and its relationship to clinical significance in the context of pain research and management. ⋯ SIGNIFICANCE: Reliability studies quantify the measurement error in experimental or clinical setups and should be interpreted as a continuous outcome. The assessment of measurement error is useful to design and interpret future experimental studies and clinical interventions. Reliability and clinical relevance are inextricably linked, as measurement error should be considered in the interpretation of minimal detectable change and minimal clinically important differences.
-
Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a complex with a heterogenous clinical presentation. A better understanding of the factors that contribute to cLBP is needed for accurate diagnosis, optimal treatment, and identification of mechanistic targets for new therapies. The Back Pain Consortium (BACPAC) Research Program provides a unique opportunity in this regard, as it will generate large clinical datasets, including a diverse set of harmonized measurements. The Theoretical Model Working Group was established to guide BACPAC research and to organize new knowledge within a mechanistic framework. This article summarizes the initial work of the Theoretical Model Working Group. It includes a three-stage integration of expert opinion and an umbrella literature review of factors that affect cLBP severity and chronicity. ⋯ This theoretical perspective will evolve over time as BACPAC investigators link empirical results to theory, challenge current ideas of the biopsychosocial model, and use a systems approach to develop tools and algorithms that disentangle the dynamic interactions among cLBP factors.
-
Labor pain is a complex phenomenon, which is influenced by many factors. Therefore, an effective pain management during birth requires an assessment of the labor pains; however, there is currently no standardized and valid tool to assess labor pains. ⋯ None of the assessment instruments found could assess the birth pain in its full complexity. Therefore, midwives have to rely on their competence to evaluate labor pain on an individual basis. Further research is necessary to identify the relevant influencing factors of labor pains and to be able to develop suitable instruments.