• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.156-163
• /
• 2001

Background: The categorical scales and visual analogue scales (VAS) are methods used for evaluating variations of postoperative pain intensity. Several studies have introduced the idea that there is a clear correlation between visual scales and categorical scales. However, when VAS is the only pain measure in the study, we do not know what point on the VAS represents a category on the categorical scale and their degree of correlation with satisfaction for postoperative pain. Methods: 252 patients who had undergone elective surgery were studied. A 5-point categorical scale (none, mild, moderate, severe, worst possible pain), a 0-100 mm VAS (no pain to worst possible pain) and patient satisfaction score were checked 24 hours after surgery using a pain questionnaire and VAS tool. Results: The mean VAS score of the 14 patients reporting 'no-pain' was $1.9{\pm}0.9$, $23.9{\pm}1.0$ for the 132 patients reporting 'mild-pain', $47.2{\pm}1.1$ for the 82 patients reporting 'moderate-pain' and $67.5{\pm}2.8$ for the 24 patients reporting 'severe-pain'. Of the patients reporting moderate pain, 85% scored over 45.6 mm on the corresponding VAS, with a mean score 47.2 mm. The mean satisfaction scores were $90.6{\pm}2.7$ for the 'no pain', patients, $75.1{\pm}1.3$ for ‘mild pain', $58.3{\pm}1.5$ for 'moderate pain', and $55.1{\pm}4.0$ for 'severe pain' patients. The categorical scale was significantly correlated with VAS (P < 0.01). The satisfaction score was significantly inversely correlated with VAS (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results indicate that if a patient records a VAS score in excess of 45.6 mm they would probably have recorded at least moderate pain on a 5-point categorical scale. The categorical scale can be used properly for postoperative pain measurement with VAS. More research is required for the development of suitable pain descriptor for a categorical scale and pain questionnaire in Korean.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness of diarrhea-inducing treatment by Gamsui-mal for lumbar spinal stenosis. During hospitalization four patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were treated with diarrhea-inducing treatment by Gamsui-mal and acupuncture, herbal medicine, moxibustion, cupping treatment, Bee-venom pharmacopuncture. Before treatment, we explained in detail about diarrhea-inducing treatment by Gamsui-mal and patients agreed with treatment. The symptoms appeared in patients of diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting in the treatment process. We evaluated the degree of improvement by visual analogue scale (VAS), oswestry disability index (ODI). After treatment, we found that pain was reduced and patient's symptoms were improved by visual analogue scale (VAS), oswestry disability index (ODI) score. The results show that diarrhea-inducing treatment by Gamsui-mal was rapidly improving symptoms. Further studies are needed to clarify the effect of diarrhea-inducing treatment by Gamsui-mal.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.240-248
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness of Sihochunggan-tang gagambang in two patients with erythema multiforme which ocurred repeatedly in stress condition.Methods: This case study was conducted in two erythema multiforme(EM) patients who have visited Korean Medicine Clinic. All two patients were treated with Sihochunggan-tang gagambang and acupuncture. VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) score was used to check the subjective change of skin symptoms and itching sense.Results & Conclusions: The VAS score were decreased compared to the initial visit in all two patients in our study. And most skin symptoms and itching sense of two patients were improved. As a result of examining VAS scores and photographs, Sihochunggan-tang gagambang can be effective on EM in two cases in our study.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This study was carried out to compare the Sweet Bee Venom (referred to as Sweet BV hereafter) acupuncture parallel treatment to treatment with acupuncture only for the patient diagnosed with lumbar spine sprain and find a better treatment. Methods : The subjects were patients diagnosed with lumbar spine sprain and hospitalized at Suncheon oriental medical hospital, which was randomly divided into sweet BV parallel treatment group and acupuncture-only group, and other treatment conditions were maintained the same. Then, VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) was used to compare the difference in the treatment period between the two groups from VAS 10 to VAS 0, from VAS 10 to VAS 5, and from VAS 5 to VAS 0. Result & Conclusion : Sweet BV parallel treatment group and acupuncture-only treatment group were compared regarding the respective treatment period, and as the result, the treatment period from VAS 10 to VAS 5 was significantly reduced in sweet BV parallel treatment group compared to the acupuncture-only treatment group, but the treatment period from VAS 5 to VAS 0 did not show a significant difference. Therefore, it can be said that sweet BV parallel treatment is effective in shortening the treatment period and controlling early pain compared to acupuncture-only treatment.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.374-397
• /
• 2004

This experiment was designed to investigate the analgesic effect of non-invasive electroacupuncture treatment on femoral head osteotomy in dogs. Twelve dogs were divided into 3 groups in this experiment. Electroacupuncture group was non-invasively electrostimulated in Huan Tiao (GB-30) acupoint for 10 minutes by 4.5V, 5Hz for 10 days. Medication group was treated with carprofen (4mg/kg, P.O.) for 10 days. Control group was not treated. Each group was pre-operatively and post-operatively scored by using VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), SDS (Simple Descriptive Scale), NRS (Numerical Rating Scale), and measured serum cortisol levels. The results of VAS, SDS and NRS in electroacupuncture and medication groups were better than those of control group. And, the results of electroacupuncture group were better than those of medication group since 6th day after osteotomy in pain management(p<0.05). But, there were no significances in serum cortisol level among 3 groups. In conclusion, non-invasive electroacupuncture treatment showed sufficient analgesic effect on postoperative pain management after femoral head osteotomy, and VAS, SDS, and NRS scoring system would be adapted in evaluation of pain management.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2005

Objectives : To evaluate the pain improvement of the frozen shoulder patients taken the electro-acupuncture therapy using Visual Analogue Scale. Methods : The 38 frozen shoulder patients visited department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion in National Medical Center from 1st September 2004 to 28th February 2005 had taken the electroacupuncture therapy or body-acupuncture therapy more than 3 times.(Electroacupuncture group was 24 persons and body-acupuncture group was 14 persons.) We evaluated their improvement of shoulder pain using Visual Analog Scale(VAS) at each visit. Then we analyzed the pain improvement comparing with two groups. Results : Both VAS scores of electroacupuncture group and body-acupuncture group have significantly improved. VAS score at third visit of electroacupuncture group and body-acupuncture group have significantly improved. VAS score at third visit of electroacupuncture group was significantly lower than that of body-acupuncture group (p=0.0057). The decreased VAS score after first visit of electroacupuncture group was also significantly higher than that of body-acupuncture group(p=0.0225). Conclusion : The pain of electroacupuncture group decreased more than body-acupuncture group at early visit. But the total decreased VAS scores of two groups was not significantly different.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.202-208
• /
• 2003

Objective : This study was designed to compared with the effect of body acupuncture and 8 constitution acupuncture by pain Disability Index(PDI) and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). Methods : Body acupuncture group consists of 10 patients and 8 Constitution acupuncture group consists of 10 patients. The degree of improvement was evaluated by PDI and VAS after 2 weeks treatment. PDI consists of seven items and they are scored as 10 points per each item. Results : After 2 weeks treatment there was no significant difference between the two groups in PDI scores, each PDI item's score and VAS score. Conclusions : The effect of 8 constitution acupuncture is not statistically different form that of body acupuncture on neck pain. Further study is needed about the effectiveness of 8 constitution acupuncture.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.61-74
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chuna treatment(manipulation) on lumbar sprain caused by traffic accident in early stage, by analysis of the Heart Rate Variability(HRV) and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). Methods : This study carried out on 20 patients who have received hospital treatment in Daejeon Univ. cheonan Oriental Hospital. Non-chuna group got acupuncture-therapy, herbal medication, physical therapy and Chuna group got all the therapies and chuna treatment. We measured HRV and VAS on 2nd, 4th day. Results : After being treated by our methods, Chuna group showed the inclination to balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve. In chuna group as compared with non-chuna group, an autonomic nerve activity and stress resistance showed the inclination to increase(p<0.05). And chuna treatment reduced the rate of stress increase. Conclusions : The results suggest that chuna treatment help traffic accident patients in early stage to reduce pain. Refer to autonomic nerve system, chuna treatment seem to do positive effect but Further long term study in a large scale is needed.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.176-181
• /
• 2008

Stomach cancer shows the highest incidence among cancer patients in Korea and it deteriorates the patients' health-related quality of life considerably. This study measured utility weights of severe stomach cancer symptoms using VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), TTO (Time-trade Off) and EQ-5D (EuroQol-5 Dimension) methods. A survey questionnaire was developed to describe the symptoms of severe stomach cancer comprehensively and concisely using VAS, TTO and EQ-5D. A face-to-face interview was conducted for 21 cancer inpatients in a hospital and 25 non-patients. The mean utility weight is 0.498 for VAS, 0.375 for EQ-5D and 0.300 for TTO. Using VAS or TTO methods, there were no statistically significant differences between patients and non-patients while there was significant difference in EQ-5D. The utility weight with VAS and EQ-5D has shown similar trend - higher score in patient group, male and aged while it has opposite trend with TTO.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.113-122
• /
• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study is to report the case improved through Korean Medicine Including Herbal Medicine with Astragali radix, Rehmannia glutinosa as main ingredients, Acupuncture and External Preparation on the treatment of contact dermatitis. Methods : A patient with contact dermatitis was diagnosed through Korean Medicine and treated with Herbal Medicine with Astragali radix, Rehmannia glutinosa as main ingredients, Acupuncture and External preparation. The Degree of itching was assessed with Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) and the severity of wheals and redness on lesion site was assessed through photography. Results : VAS decreased from 9 to 1 and wheals and redness on lesion site was disappeared. Conclusions : According to the result, These findings suggest that Korean Medicine can be effective for the treatment of contact dermatitis.