From analyses of individual patient data ( seven studies , 918 patients ) , we found baseline pain strongly associated with absolute , but not relative , MCID as patients with higher baseline pain needed larger pain reduction to perceive relief .
Conclusions The MCID in acute pain varied greatly between studies and was influenced by baseline pain , definitions of improved patients and study design .
Background The minimum clinical ly important difference ( MCID ) is used to interpret the clinical relevance of results reported by trials and meta-analyses as well as to plan sample sizes in new studies .
However , there is a lack of consensus about the size of MCID in acute pain , which is a core symptom affecting patients across many clinical conditions .
Should study subjects see their previous responses: data from a randomized control trial.
To test the relative merits of administering question naires with previous responses available ( the informed condition ) or unavailable ( the blind condition ) , we administered blind and informed versions of a quality of life question naire ( the Chronic Respiratory Disease Question naire , or CRQ ) in a r and omized , double-blind trial of bronchodilators in chronic airflow limitation . The responsiveness of the two methods , as reflected in the p-values associated with salbutamol and theophylline effects were comparable for three of the four dimensions of the CRQ . The data suggested possible increased responsiveness of the informed method for the emotional function dimension of the question naire . Changes in the informed CRQ dyspnea and fatigue dimensions showed stronger correlations with changes in spirometry , 6 minute walk distance , and rating of dyspnea after the walk test than did blind administration . Further , changes in all four CRQ dimensions showed stronger correlations with corresponding global ratings using the informed question naire . These results suggest that by letting study subjects see their previous responses the validity of subjective measures of health status in clinical trials can be improved
From analyses of individual patient data ( seven studies , 918 patients ) , we found baseline pain strongly associated with absolute , but not relative , MCID as patients with higher baseline pain needed larger pain reduction to perceive relief .
Conclusions The MCID in acute pain varied greatly between studies and was influenced by baseline pain , definitions of improved patients and study design .
Background The minimum clinical ly important difference ( MCID ) is used to interpret the clinical relevance of results reported by trials and meta-analyses as well as to plan sample sizes in new studies .
However , there is a lack of consensus about the size of MCID in acute pain , which is a core symptom affecting patients across many clinical conditions .