Development of Korean Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire for
Neuropathic Pain Screening and Grading: A Pilot Study

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 30(1); 2012 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2012;30(1): 15-25.

신경병통증의 선별과 척도화를 위한 한국어 신경병통증설문지 개발: 예비연구

윤동주, 오지영 김병조 임정근 배종석 정두신 주인수 박민수 김병준

을지대학교 의과대학 을지대학병원 신경과, 건국대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실 a , 고려대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실 b , 계명대학 교 의과대학 신경과학교실 c , 인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 신경과학교실 d , 순천향대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실 e , 아주대학 교 의과대학 신경과학교실 f , 영남대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실 g , 성균관대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실 h閨낸? hw?

Development of Korean Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire for Neuropathic Pain Screening and Grading: A Pilot Study

Dong Joo Yun

Department of Neurology, Eulji University Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea Department of Neurology a , Konkuk University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Neurology b , Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Neurology c , Keimyung University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea Department of Neurology d , Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea Department of Neurology e , Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea Department of Neurology f , Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea Department of Neurology g , Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea Department of Neurology h , Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Background: The pain-screening questionnaire is a self-reported description of the intensity and nature of pain. This study aimed to develop the Korean Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire (KNPQ) and to assess its reliability and validity regarding the diagnosis of neuropathic pain.
Methods: Four screening tools and two rating scales were translated and modified to develop the preliminary KNPQ. Following a development phase and a pilot study, we generated the final 25-item version of the KNPQ. Each item was rated on a numerical scale of 0?10. The validation procedure was performed in 62 patients with neuropathic pain (21 with central pain and 41 with peripheral pain) and in 34 patients with nonneuropathic pain. The internal consistency between items was assessed to determine the reliability of the KNPQ, and its concurrent validity was determined by evaluating the relationship between the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and KNPQ scores.
Results: The KNPQ was not influenced by age, sex, or pain duration. The 25-item questionnaire demonstrated high internal consistency. The total score of the KNPQ was correlated with the global pain intensity on a VAS. These items were able to differentiate neuropathic pain from nonneuropathic pain with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 44% (when using a cut-off point of 46).
Conclusions: The newly developed KNPQ may be used for the initial screening of neuropathic pain patients. However, it cannot be used to differentiate central neuropathic pain from peripheral neuropathic pain. Key Words: Korean Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire (KNPQ), Neuropathic pain, Pain assessment