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 .
Do quantitative changes in pain intensity correlate with pain relief and satisfaction?
OBJECTIVE To correlate measured  pain intensity ( PI  ) changes with pain relief and satisfaction with pain management . METHODS A prospect i ve single-group repeated- measures design study . A heterogeneous group of patients were asked to record their levels of PI at initial presentation and at ED release using a numerical  descriptor  scale ( NDS ) and a visual analog scale ( VAS ) . At release , a  5-point pain relief scale  and a  pain management satisfaction survey  were also completed . RESULTS A convenience sample of 81 patients were enrolled over the study period . The average reduction in PI for all patients was 33 % . A 5 % , 30 % , and 57 % reduction in PI correlated with " no , " " some/partial , " and " significant/complete " relief , respectively ( p < 0.001 ) . However , when patients were divided into 2 groups based on their initial PI scores , patients with moderate/severe pain ( NDS > 5 ) required a reduction of 35 % and 84 % in PI to achieve " some/partial " and " significant/complete " relief , respectively . Patients in less pain ( NDS < or = 5 ) needed 25 % and 29 % reductions in PI for the same categories ( p=0.8 ) . Patients were generally satisfied with their pain management . There was a positive association between pain relief and satisfaction with pain management . CONCLUSION There is a significant association between changes in PI and pain relief . Greater reductions in PI are required for patients presenting with more severe initial pain to achieve relief compared with those who have lesser initial PI . While there is a linear relationship between increasing pain relief and satisfaction , relief of pain appears to only partially contribute to overall satisfaction with pain management
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 .