Practical Dyspnea Assessment: Relationship Between the 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale and the Four-Level Categorical Verbal Descriptor Scale of Dyspnea Intensity.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Measurement of dyspnea is important for clinical care and research.

Objectives

To characterize the relationship between the 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and four-level categorical Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS) for dyspnea assessment.

Methods

This was a substudy of a double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing palliative oxygen to room air for relief of refractory breathlessness in patients with life-limiting illness. Dyspnea was assessed with both a 0-10 NRS and a four-level categorical VDS over the one-week trial. NRS and VDS responses were analyzed in cross section and longitudinally. Relationships between NRS and VDS responses were portrayed using descriptive statistics and visual representations.

Results

Two hundred twenty-six participan

SUBMITTER: Wysham NG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5008963 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature