Pain measurement Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2013;35(12):541-548
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013001200003
PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of low back pain in pregnant women and to describe its characteristics and associated factors. METHODS: The participants were 269 pregnant women in the first to the third trimester of pregnancy, seen at the obstetrics outpatient clinic of a University Hospital in the Brazilian Northeast. We applied a questionnaire in order to obtain data regarding socio-demographic variables, obstetric history and characteristics of low back pain, as well as the Oswestry and Rolland Morris questionnaires to assess disability and a visual analog pain scale to measure pain intensity. RESULTS: The prevalence of low back pain was 73%, with the following characteristics: stabbing (62/31.6%), irradiation (162/82.6%), of daily frequency (105/53.5%), usually starting at night (83/42.3%) when it was also more intense (122/62.2%), and lasting about 1 hour in 118 women (60.2%). Pain improved with rest (100/51%), worsened when the women stood or sat for a long time (86/43.9%) and when they did housework (85/43.4%). The level of disability ranged from "mild" to "moderate" in most cases. Urinary tract infection (p=0.02) and the scores of the Oswestry and Rolland Morris questionnaires showed significant association with the visual analogue pain scale. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of back pain among pregnant women is high, with varying characteristics. The degree of disability is usually moderate and the presence of urinary infection and higher disability scores were associated with greater intensity of low back pain.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2013;35(12):541-548
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013001200003
PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of low back pain in pregnant women and to describe its characteristics and associated factors. METHODS: The participants were 269 pregnant women in the first to the third trimester of pregnancy, seen at the obstetrics outpatient clinic of a University Hospital in the Brazilian Northeast. We applied a questionnaire in order to obtain data regarding socio-demographic variables, obstetric history and characteristics of low back pain, as well as the Oswestry and Rolland Morris questionnaires to assess disability and a visual analog pain scale to measure pain intensity. RESULTS: The prevalence of low back pain was 73%, with the following characteristics: stabbing (62/31.6%), irradiation (162/82.6%), of daily frequency (105/53.5%), usually starting at night (83/42.3%) when it was also more intense (122/62.2%), and lasting about 1 hour in 118 women (60.2%). Pain improved with rest (100/51%), worsened when the women stood or sat for a long time (86/43.9%) and when they did housework (85/43.4%). The level of disability ranged from "mild" to "moderate" in most cases. Urinary tract infection (p=0.02) and the scores of the Oswestry and Rolland Morris questionnaires showed significant association with the visual analogue pain scale. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of back pain among pregnant women is high, with varying characteristics. The degree of disability is usually moderate and the presence of urinary infection and higher disability scores were associated with greater intensity of low back pain.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2010;32(5):247-253
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000500008
PURPOSE: to compare the quality of life (QL) of women with and without chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and to investigate the factors associated with QL in women with CPP. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted on 30 women with CPP and 20 women without CPP. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated. QL was investigated by applying the SF-36 questionnaire, which contains eight domains: functional capacity, physical aspects, pain, general health status, vitality, social aspects, emotional aspects, and mental health. These domains can be summarized into two groups: physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS). Pain intensity was investigated by applying the visual analogue scale. Linear regression analysis was used to compare QL scores between women with and without CPP and to identify factors associated with the QL of women with CPP. RESULTS: the mean age of women with and without CPP was 35.2±7.5 and 36±9.3 years (p=0.77), respectively. Women with CPP had a lower monthly family income (p=0.04) and a higher prevalence of dysmenorrhea (87 versus 40%; p<0.01) and depression (30 versus 5%; p=0.04) compared to women without CPP. Adjusted analysis for potential confounding variables revealed that women with CPP had lower QL scores in the pain (p<0.01) and social aspects (p<0.01) domains. Depression was negatively associated with the emotional aspects domain (p=0.05) and with the MCS (p=0.03), while pain intensity was negatively related to the pain domain (p<0.01) of the QL of women with CPP. CONCLUSIONS: women with CPP presented a worse QL compared to women without CPP. Depression and pain intensity were negatively related to the QL of women with CPP. Thus, the evaluation and treatment of pain and depressive symptoms must be among the priorities that aim to improve the QL of women with CPP.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2010;32(5):247-253
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000500008
PURPOSE: to compare the quality of life (QL) of women with and without chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and to investigate the factors associated with QL in women with CPP. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted on 30 women with CPP and 20 women without CPP. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated. QL was investigated by applying the SF-36 questionnaire, which contains eight domains: functional capacity, physical aspects, pain, general health status, vitality, social aspects, emotional aspects, and mental health. These domains can be summarized into two groups: physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS). Pain intensity was investigated by applying the visual analogue scale. Linear regression analysis was used to compare QL scores between women with and without CPP and to identify factors associated with the QL of women with CPP. RESULTS: the mean age of women with and without CPP was 35.2±7.5 and 36±9.3 years (p=0.77), respectively. Women with CPP had a lower monthly family income (p=0.04) and a higher prevalence of dysmenorrhea (87 versus 40%; p<0.01) and depression (30 versus 5%; p=0.04) compared to women without CPP. Adjusted analysis for potential confounding variables revealed that women with CPP had lower QL scores in the pain (p<0.01) and social aspects (p<0.01) domains. Depression was negatively associated with the emotional aspects domain (p=0.05) and with the MCS (p=0.03), while pain intensity was negatively related to the pain domain (p<0.01) of the QL of women with CPP. CONCLUSIONS: women with CPP presented a worse QL compared to women without CPP. Depression and pain intensity were negatively related to the QL of women with CPP. Thus, the evaluation and treatment of pain and depressive symptoms must be among the priorities that aim to improve the QL of women with CPP.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2007;29(6):291-296
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000600003
PURPOSE: loss of cutaneous sensitivity has been related to lesions of the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) during the axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer treatment. We evaluated pain and cutaneous sensitivity in the ICBN dermatome of patients in which the nerve was preserved during the axillary dissection. METHODS: we carried out a prospective cohort study of 77 patients divided into: NP group (n=34), patients without ICBN preservation, and ICB group (n=43), patients in which the nerve was preserved. Cutaneous sensitivity was evaluated one year after surgery using 1) a modified McGill Pain Questionnaire; 2) clinical examination including brachial perimetry and evaluation of pain and tactile sensitivity; 3) Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments which allow an objective, qualitative, and quantitative evaluation of peripheral nerve lesions. RESULTS: pain was more frequently reported in the NP group (23/33) than in patients from the ICB group (17/42); p=0,012. Painful sensitivity was preserved in the majority of patients from the ICB group (38/42) but in only 11/33 patients from the NP group (p<0,01). There was no significant difference in the number of lymph nodes dissected between the two groups (p=0,06). CONCLUSIONS: patients with ICBN preservation had less pain and more preservation of cutaneous sensitivity, with no decreased number of axillary lymph nodes removed during the axillary dissection.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2007;29(6):291-296
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000600003
PURPOSE: loss of cutaneous sensitivity has been related to lesions of the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) during the axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer treatment. We evaluated pain and cutaneous sensitivity in the ICBN dermatome of patients in which the nerve was preserved during the axillary dissection. METHODS: we carried out a prospective cohort study of 77 patients divided into: NP group (n=34), patients without ICBN preservation, and ICB group (n=43), patients in which the nerve was preserved. Cutaneous sensitivity was evaluated one year after surgery using 1) a modified McGill Pain Questionnaire; 2) clinical examination including brachial perimetry and evaluation of pain and tactile sensitivity; 3) Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments which allow an objective, qualitative, and quantitative evaluation of peripheral nerve lesions. RESULTS: pain was more frequently reported in the NP group (23/33) than in patients from the ICB group (17/42); p=0,012. Painful sensitivity was preserved in the majority of patients from the ICB group (38/42) but in only 11/33 patients from the NP group (p<0,01). There was no significant difference in the number of lymph nodes dissected between the two groups (p=0,06). CONCLUSIONS: patients with ICBN preservation had less pain and more preservation of cutaneous sensitivity, with no decreased number of axillary lymph nodes removed during the axillary dissection.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2007;29(4):181-185
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000400003
PURPOSE: to determine the efficacy of 10% lidocaine spray applied to the cervix before the procedure of diagnostic hysteroscopy, in order to reduce the painful process and the discomfort caused by the exam. METHODS: a total of 261 consecutive patients participated in the study, which was conducted from March 2004 to March 2005. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group receiving topical lidocaine spray (lidocaine group - LdG) and the other, receiving no medication before the procedure (control group - CG). In the LdG patients, thirty milligrams of 10% lidocaine spray were applied to the surface of the cervix five minutes before hysteroscopy started. Immediately, after the end of the procedure, the patients from both groups were asked to respond to a questionnaire about pain and to quantify the pain, in centimeters, using a 10-cm non-graduated visual analog scale. The unpaired t test, the Mann-Whitney test and the chi2 test were used for statistical analyses, considering p significant if lower than 0.05. RESULTS: there was no statistically significant difference between groups regarding age, parity or percentage of patients in menacme or menopause, or regarding the indications for the procedure and the hysteroscopic findings. A biopsy was necessary in 57 of the 132 LdG patients and in 48 of the 129 CG patients (p=0.96). The mean pain score was 4.3±2.9 in LdG and 3.9±2.5 in CG (p=0.2). A difference in the mean pain score was observed only among patients in menacme and menopause receiving or not the lidocaine spray, with p=0.01 and p=0.04 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: the use of lidocaine spray during diagnostic hysteroscopy does not minimize the discomfort and pain of the patients and therefore should not be applied.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2007;29(4):181-185
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000400003
PURPOSE: to determine the efficacy of 10% lidocaine spray applied to the cervix before the procedure of diagnostic hysteroscopy, in order to reduce the painful process and the discomfort caused by the exam. METHODS: a total of 261 consecutive patients participated in the study, which was conducted from March 2004 to March 2005. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group receiving topical lidocaine spray (lidocaine group - LdG) and the other, receiving no medication before the procedure (control group - CG). In the LdG patients, thirty milligrams of 10% lidocaine spray were applied to the surface of the cervix five minutes before hysteroscopy started. Immediately, after the end of the procedure, the patients from both groups were asked to respond to a questionnaire about pain and to quantify the pain, in centimeters, using a 10-cm non-graduated visual analog scale. The unpaired t test, the Mann-Whitney test and the chi2 test were used for statistical analyses, considering p significant if lower than 0.05. RESULTS: there was no statistically significant difference between groups regarding age, parity or percentage of patients in menacme or menopause, or regarding the indications for the procedure and the hysteroscopic findings. A biopsy was necessary in 57 of the 132 LdG patients and in 48 of the 129 CG patients (p=0.96). The mean pain score was 4.3±2.9 in LdG and 3.9±2.5 in CG (p=0.2). A difference in the mean pain score was observed only among patients in menacme and menopause receiving or not the lidocaine spray, with p=0.01 and p=0.04 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: the use of lidocaine spray during diagnostic hysteroscopy does not minimize the discomfort and pain of the patients and therefore should not be applied.
