scholarly journals Influencing Pain Inferences Using Random Numerical Anchoring: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Elizabeth Lewinson ◽  
Joel D Katz

BACKGROUND Numerical anchoring occurs when exposure to a numeric quantity influences a person’s subsequent judgment involving other quantities. This could be applicable to the evaluation of pain, where exposure to an unrelated number before the evaluation of pain could influence pain ratings. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine whether exposure to a random numeric anchor influences subsequent pain intensity ratings of a hypothetical patient. METHODS In this study, 385 participants read a vignette describing a patient with chronic pain before being randomly assigned to one of four groups. Groups 1 and 2 spun an 11-wedge number wheel (0-10), which was, unbeknown to the participants, programmed to stop on a high number (8) or a low number (2), respectively. Group 3 spun a similar letter wheel (A-K), which was programmed to stop on either the letter C or I (control 1). Group 4 did not spin a wheel (control 2). Participants were then asked to rate the patient’s pain intensity using a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale. RESULTS The high-number group rated the patient’s pain (median 8, IQR 2) significantly higher than the letter wheel control (median 7, IQR 2; <i>P</i>=.02) and the low-number group (median 6, IQR 2; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). The low-number group rated the pain significantly lower than controls 1 and 2 (median 7, IQR 2; both <i>P</i>=.045). CONCLUSIONS Pain ratings were influenced by prior exposure to a random number with no relevant information about the patient’s pain, indicating anchoring had occurred. However, contrary to the traditional definition of anchoring where anchoring occurs even when participants are unaware of the anchor’s influence, in this study, the anchoring effect was seen only in participants who believed that the anchor had influenced them. This suggests that anchoring effects could potentially occur among health care providers tasked with evaluating a patient’s pain and should be evaluated further.

10.2196/17533 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e17533
Author(s):  
Rebecca Elizabeth Lewinson ◽  
Joel D Katz

Background Numerical anchoring occurs when exposure to a numeric quantity influences a person’s subsequent judgment involving other quantities. This could be applicable to the evaluation of pain, where exposure to an unrelated number before the evaluation of pain could influence pain ratings. Objective This study aimed to determine whether exposure to a random numeric anchor influences subsequent pain intensity ratings of a hypothetical patient. Methods In this study, 385 participants read a vignette describing a patient with chronic pain before being randomly assigned to one of four groups. Groups 1 and 2 spun an 11-wedge number wheel (0-10), which was, unbeknown to the participants, programmed to stop on a high number (8) or a low number (2), respectively. Group 3 spun a similar letter wheel (A-K), which was programmed to stop on either the letter C or I (control 1). Group 4 did not spin a wheel (control 2). Participants were then asked to rate the patient’s pain intensity using a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale. Results The high-number group rated the patient’s pain (median 8, IQR 2) significantly higher than the letter wheel control (median 7, IQR 2; P=.02) and the low-number group (median 6, IQR 2; P<.001). The low-number group rated the pain significantly lower than controls 1 and 2 (median 7, IQR 2; both P=.045). Conclusions Pain ratings were influenced by prior exposure to a random number with no relevant information about the patient’s pain, indicating anchoring had occurred. However, contrary to the traditional definition of anchoring where anchoring occurs even when participants are unaware of the anchor’s influence, in this study, the anchoring effect was seen only in participants who believed that the anchor had influenced them. This suggests that anchoring effects could potentially occur among health care providers tasked with evaluating a patient’s pain and should be evaluated further.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 283-290
Author(s):  
Adria Yared Sadala ◽  
Érika Patrícia Rampazo da Silva ◽  
Richard Eloin Liebano

The aim of the present study is to describe a study protocol to compare different types of analgesic electrical currents on pain intensity and sensory comfort during the application of carboxytherapy for the treatment of cellulite. Seventy five women with the presence of moderate and/or severe gluteal cellulite will be randomly allocated into three groups: carboxytherapy plus transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, carboxytherapy plus interferential current or carboxytherapy plus Aussie current. Pain intensity, which is the primary outcome, will be measured by a numeric rating scale (0–10). The secondary outcome is sensory comfort, which will be measured using the visual analogue scale (0–10). Trial registration: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry: ReBEC (RBR-6z82zb) www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-6z82zb/


CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S95-S96
Author(s):  
M. Maignan ◽  
A. Verdetti ◽  
N. Termoz Masson ◽  
C. Falcon ◽  
P. Mabiala Makele ◽  
...  

Introduction: Insufficient analgesia affects around 50% of emergency department patients. The use of a protocol helps to reduce the risk of oligoanalgesia in this context. Our objective was to describe the feasibility and efficacy of a multimodal analgesia protocol (combining paracetamol, oxycodone, and inhaled low-dose methoxyflurane) initiated by triage nurse. Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study in the emergency department at Grenoble Alpes University Hospital (Grenoble, France) between October 2017 and April 2018. Non severe adult trauma patients with a numerical pain rating scale (NRS) score ≥4 and receiving MEOF were included. The primary efficacy criterion was the proportion of patients with an NRS score ≤3 at 15min post-administration. Pain intensity was measured for 60 min as well as during radiography. Data on adverse events and satisfaction were also recorded. Data are presented as median [interquartile (IQR)] and were compared using non parametric tests. Results: A total of 200 adult patients were included (age: 32 [IQR: 23–49] years; 126 men (63%)). Patients presented at triage with a pain score of 7 [IQR: 6-8]. Sixty-six patients (33%) reported an NRS score ≤3 at 15 min post-administration. The time required to achieve a decrease of at least 2 points in the NRS score was 10 [IQR 5–20] min. The pain intensity was 4 [IQR: 2–5] before radiography and 4 [IQR: 2–6] during radiography. Adverse events were frequent (n = 128, 64%), mainly dizziness. No serious adverse events were reported and 89% of minor adverse events resolved at one hour. Both patients and health care providers reported good levels of satisfaction. Conclusion: The administration of a nurse-driven multimodal analgesia protocol combining paracetamol, oxycodone, and low-dose methoxyflurane was feasible on triage. It rapidly produced long-lasting analgesia in adult trauma patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 3056
Author(s):  
Ada Holak ◽  
Michał Czapla ◽  
Marzena Zielińska

Background: The all-too-frequent failure to rate pain intensity, resulting in the lack of or inadequacy of pain management, has long ceased to be an exclusive problem of the young patient, becoming a major public health concern. This study aimed to evaluate the methods used for reducing post-traumatic pain in children and the frequency of use of such methods. Additionally, the methods of pain assessment and the frequency of their application in this age group were analysed. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 2452 medical records of emergency medical teams dispatched to injured children aged 0–18 years in the area around Warsaw (Poland). Results: Of all injured children, 1% (20 out of 2432) had their pain intensity rated, and the only tool used for this assessment was the numeric rating scale (NRS). Children with burns most frequently received a single analgesic drug or cooling (56.2%), whereas the least frequently used method was multimodal treatment combining pharmacotherapy and cooling (13.5%). Toddlers constituted the largest percentage of patients who were provided with cooling (12%). Immobilisation was most commonly used in adolescents (29%) and school-age children (n = 186; 24%). Conclusions: Low frequency of pain assessment emphasises the need to provide better training in the use of various pain rating scales and protocols. What is more, non-pharmacological methods (cooling and immobilisation) used for reducing pain in injured children still remain underutilized.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-28
Author(s):  
Naeem Abdi ◽  
Mohammad Malekzadeh ◽  
Zhila Fereidouni ◽  
Mohammad Behnammoghadam ◽  
Parisa Zaj ◽  
...  

The present study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in treating pain and subjective distress of patients with cancer. A randomized controlled trial was performed on patients with cancer suffering from moderate to severe cancer pain in Yasuj, Iran, in 2019 and 2020. Sixty patients aged 30–60 years who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected using a consensus sampling technique. Patients were randomly assigned to EMDR therapy or control groups based on random block allocation. EMDR therapy was administered in six to eight daily 1-hour sessions. The control group received the standard treatment provided by the hospital. A Numeric Pain-Rating Scale (NRS) and the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS) were used to assess pain and subjective distress before and after the intervention in each session. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and independent t test using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. The mean pain intensity and subjective distress score in the experimental group before and after the EMDR intervention were significantly reduced (p < .001). In the control group, no decreases in NRS and SUDS scores occurred at any time (p > .05). Differences in pain scores between the groups were statistically significant (p < .001). EMDR can effectively and sustainably reduce the pain and subjective distress experienced by patients with cancer. Thus, EMDR is a recommended therapeutic option to mitigate pain and subjective distress among patients with cancer.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Sif Gylfadottir ◽  
Diana Hedevang Christensen ◽  
Sia Kromann Nicolaisen ◽  
Reimar Wernich Thomsen ◽  
Jens Steen Nielsen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and aims Painful polyneuropathy (PPN) is a disabling complication of diabetes. This study aims to determine its prevalence and relationship with Quality of Life (QoL) in a nationwide prospective cohort of incident recently diagnosed Danish type 2 diabetic patients. Methods We sent a detailed questionnaire on neuropathy, pain and QoL to 6726 patients prospectively enrolled from general practitioners and hospital specialist outpatient clinics into the Danish Centre for Strategic Research in Type 2 Diabetes (DD2) cohort. Patients who reported pain in both feet and a score ≥3 on the Douleur Neuropathique (DN4) questionnaire were considered to have possible PPN. QoL and pain intensity were measured on a numeric rating scale (NRS, 0–10). The Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) was used to assess neuropathy. Results A total of 5371 (79.8%) returned a complete questionnaire. 848 (15.8%) recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients reported pain in both feet. Of the 619 patients with pain who completed the DN4 questionnaire, 404 (65.2%) had a DN4 score ≥ 3, corresponding to a prevalence in the total population of possible PPN of 10.3%. Mean pain intensity was 5.2 (SD 2.2) and 89% had a MNSI score ≥ 3. Patients with possible PPN had a substantially lower QoL score than those without PPN (median QoL score 6 versus 8 (p < 0.001)), also when correcting for MNSI score. Conclusions Ten percent of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients in Denmark had possible PPN. Patients with PPN had lower QoL than patients without PPN.


Author(s):  
Iveta Golubovska ◽  
Aleksejs Miščuks ◽  
Ēriks Rudzītis

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the intensity of pain in orthopaedic hospital patients and to identify unsatisfactory pain management and possibilities for improvements in the future. Data collection included Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores, which characterised the intensity of pain. Maximum pain on the day of surgery, mean pain on the day of surgery (D0), and mean pain on first (D1) and second (D2) postoperative days were documented. The pain of an intensity from 0 to 3 was defined as mild pain, 4 to 6 as moderate pain, and 6 to 10 as severe pain. Maximum severe pain intensity on the day of surgery was experienced by 20.5% of patients, moderate by 45.8%, and mild by 33.6%. The reported mean pain intensity according to type of surgery was as follows: hip replacement- 2.79 ± 1.6 (D0), 2.09 ± 1.4 (D1), and 1.35 ± 1.2 (D2); knee replacement - 3.39 ± 1.7 (D0), 2.98 ± (D1), 1.82 ± 1.36, and (D2); upper extremity surgery - 3.59 ± 1.9 (D0), 3.4 ± 1.7 (D1), and 2.1 ± 1.5 (D2); lower extremity surgery - 4.1 ± 2.1 (D0), 3.49 ± 1.42 (D1), and 2.58 ± 1.4 (D2); spine surgery - 3.31 ± 1.58 (D0), 2.88 ± 1.96 (D1), and 1.83 ± 1.74 (D2). Patients in the lower extremity group experienced unacceptable mean pain. The maximum pain intensity on day of surgery was experienced by patients after single-shot plexus brachialis block anaesthesia (5.24 ± 2.4). Well-designed multimodal analgesia with special attention to single shot techniques may improve pain management and functional outcomes after orthopaedic surgery.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shazia Rafiq ◽  
Hamayun Zafar ◽  
Prof. Dr. Syed Amir Gillani ◽  
Muhammad Sharif Waqas ◽  
Amna Zia ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Cervical Radiculopathy (CR) is a disorder of the spinal nerve roots that is largely caused by space occupying lesion which can lead to nerve root inflammation and patient usually presents with radiating pain in his/her upper extremity known as cervical radiculopathy. The objective of the study was to compare the effectiveness of neural mobilization technique with conservative treatment on pain intensity, range of motion and disability.Methods: It was a double blinded randomized clinical trial; data was collected from Mayo Hospital, Lahore through convenience sampling technique. After taking consent from the patients, the patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected and randomized blindly and assigned through computer generated random number into two groups i.e. group 1 (neural mobilization), group 2 (conventional treatment). Pain intensity was measured on Numeric pain rating scale, range of motion measured with inclinometer and functional status with neck disability index (NDI). Data was analyzed using SPSS and difference in improvement before, after 02 and 04 weeks was noted and compared. Results: There was significant improvement in pain relief, neck disability and cervical ranges after the treatment in both groups compared to the pre-treatment status (p < 0.00) and when neural mobilization was compared , it was more effective technique than conventional treatment in reducing pain and neck disability (p < 0.00). But there was not statistical difference in mean score of cervical range of motion (p>0.05)Conclusions: The present study concluded that both neural mobilization and conservative treatment were effective as an exercise program for patient with cervical radiculopathy, however neural mobilization was more effective in reducing pain and neck disability in cervical radiculopathy.Trial registration: RCT20190325043109N1


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theerawat Chalacheewa ◽  
Vanlapa Arnuntasupakul ◽  
Lisa Sangkum ◽  
Rungrawan Buachai ◽  
Jiravud Chanvitayapongs

Abstract Background: Continuous peripheral nerve catheters (CPNCs) have been used for postoperative pain relief. A common problem encountered with CPNCs is pericatheter leakage, which can lead to dressing adhesive failure. Frequent dressing changes increase the risk of catheter dislodgement and infections. Adhesive glue is effective in securing the peripheral nerve catheter and decreasing leakage around the catheter insertion site. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of pericatheter leakage with fixation using 2-octyl cyanoacrylate glue (Dermabond®) as compared to sterile strips.Methods: Thirty patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with continuous femoral nerve catheter for postoperative analgesia were randomized into the catheter fixation with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate glue (Dermabond®) group or the sterile strip group. The primary outcome was the incidence of pericatheter leakage. Secondary outcomes included the frequent of catheter displacement, the difficulty of catheter removal, pain score and patient satisfaction.Results: The incidence of pericatheter leakage at 24 and 48 hours was 0% versus 93% and 0% versus 100% in the Dermabond® and sterile strip groups, respectively (P < 0.001). The incidence of displacement at 24 and 48 hours was 6.7% versus 93.3% and 6.7% versus 100% in the Dermabond® and sterile strip, respectively (P < 0.001). There was no difference in numeric rating scale, difficulty of catheter removal, or satisfaction scores between groups.Conclusion: Catheter fixation with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate glue (Dermabond®) decreased the incidence of pericatheter leakage, as well as catheter displacement, over 48 hours as compared to sterile strip fixation.


Trials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Duc A. Ha ◽  
Oanh T. Tran ◽  
Hoa L. Nguyen ◽  
Germán Chiriboga ◽  
Robert J. Goldberg ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Vietnam has been experiencing an epidemiologic transition to that of a lower-middle income country with an increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. The key risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) are either on the rise or at alarming levels in Vietnam, particularly hypertension (HTN). Inasmuch, the burden of CVD will continue to increase in the Vietnamese population unless effective prevention and control measures are put in place. The objectives of the proposed project are to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of two multi-faceted community and clinic-based strategies on the control of elevated blood pressure (BP) among adults in Vietnam via a cluster randomized trial design. Methods Sixteen communities will be randomized to either an intervention (8 communities) or a comparison group (8 communities). Eligible and consenting adult study participants with HTN (n = 680) will be assigned to intervention/comparison status based on the community in which they reside. Both comparison and intervention groups will receive a multi-level intervention modeled after the Vietnam National Hypertension Program including education and practice change modules for health care providers, accessible reading materials for patients, and a multi-media community awareness program. In addition, the intervention group only will receive three carefully selected enhancements integrated into routine clinical care: (1) expanded community health worker services, (2) home BP self-monitoring, and (3) a “storytelling intervention,” which consists of interactive, literacy-appropriate, and culturally sensitive multi-media storytelling modules for motivating behavior change through the power of patients speaking in their own voices. The storytelling intervention will be delivered by DVDs with serial installments at baseline and at 3, 6, and 9 months after trial enrollment. Changes in BP will be assessed in both groups at several follow-up time points. Implementation outcomes will be assessed as well. Discussion Results from this full-scale trial will provide health policymakers with practical evidence on how to combat a key risk factor for CVD using a feasible, sustainable, and cost-effective intervention that could be used as a national program for controlling HTN in Vietnam. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03590691. Registered on July 17, 2018. Protocol version: 6. Date: August 15, 2019.


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