Replicability and reliability of pain assessment forms in geriatrics

Abstract

Aim of the study was to investigate the replicability and reliability of the multi-dimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ) and visual analog scale (VAS) in young and elderly individuals with chronic pain. Ambulatory patients, 20 of them aged above 65 years and complaining about chronic pain and 20 patients with the age of 40 and younger working in a factory were assessed with VAS and MDHAQ. The assessment was repeated to investigate the replicability and reliability of both tests. According to MDHAQ disability index (DI), the elderly had more complains on the first and second day of the study (p < 0.001). In terms of changes between first and second days, DI scores of the elderly group (r = 0.634; p = 0.003) and the younger group (r = 0.888; p < 0.001) had quite similar responses. Criteria for the assessment of pain, fatigue and general condition according to MDHAQ were similar in both groups in terms of changes between first and second day of the study, there was no significant differences between the groups. But while responses in the younger group according to these 3 parameters were highly reliable, the elderly group's responses were reliable only for their last week pain assessment. Both tests were replicable in the elderly group, VAS and MDHAQ were especially applicable for the last time phase of their pain; while fatigue, general health condition and DI indicated diminished reliability in the elderly group, compared to the young group. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.