RESULTS The instruments most frequently used were single-item VAS and Biberoglu and Behrman pain score , while multidimensional inventories were used in few studies .
The results of clinical studies in CPP are more frequently based on one-dimensional measurements .
RATIONALE Many types of  pain assessment are available to research ers carrying out clinical trials in chronic pelvic pain ( CPP ) , ranging from a single-item scale to multidimensional inventories .
AIM Our objective was to investigate which assessment s of pain are more commonly used in clinical trials on CPP .
Issues in planning a placebo-controlled trial of manual methods: results of a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE There are fundamental differences between the administration of medications and the application of manual procedures , such as those used by chiropractors . The objective of this study was to gather preliminary information on how to address these differences in the design of a multisite , r and omized placebo-controlled trial of chiropractic care for women with chronic pelvic pain ( CPP ) . DESIGN Pilot study for a multisite , r and omized , placebo-controlled clinical trial . SETTING Three chiropractic research clinics in the midwest United States . SUBJECTS Thirty-nine ( 39 ) women with CPP of at least 6 months ' duration , diagnosed by board-certified gynecologists . INTERVENTIONS The active intervention consisted of the chiropractic technique , lumbar spine flexion-distraction , combined with manual Trigger Point Therapy . The placebo intervention consisted of a sham chiropractic procedure performed with an instrument combined with effleurage ( light massage ) . OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was the change in the Pain Disability Index ( PDI ) from baseline to the end of treatment ( 6 weeks ) , assessed by group and site . If the change score was in the same direction at all sites , the results were to be combined to estimate treatment effect size . RESULTS Patient characteristics were similar to those of patients with CPP in other studies . Recruitment methods , particularly in respect to the eligibility criteria and screening protocol s , would require modification in order to recruit an adequate sample for the planned r and omized controlled trial . Clinicians followed st and ardized procedures with apparently minimal deviation , patients in both groups were satisfied with their care and blinding appeared to be successful . PDI change scores were not consistent across sites and so results were not combined and overall treatment effect sizes were not estimated . CONCLUSIONS The technical and personnel re sources required to achieve adequate st and ardization of procedures at multiple sites may make a placebo-controlled trial unfeasible , given our current lack of knowledge about the active agent in manual chiropractic procedures
RESULTS The instruments most frequently used were single-item VAS and Biberoglu and Behrman pain score , while multidimensional inventories were used in few studies .
The results of clinical studies in CPP are more frequently based on one-dimensional measurements .
RATIONALE Many types of  pain assessment are available to research ers carrying out clinical trials in chronic pelvic pain ( CPP ) , ranging from a single-item scale to multidimensional inventories .
AIM Our objective was to investigate which assessment s of pain are more commonly used in clinical trials on CPP .