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Chronic-pain medications: equivalence levels and method of quantifying usage
S Masters Steedman1, S J Middaugh, W G Kee
1Department of Pharmacy Services, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425.
The Clinical Journal of Pain
|September 1, 1992
Summary
The Medication Quantification Scale (MQS) reliably measures medication use in chronic pain patients. This tool demonstrated validity and helped show that rehabilitation programs significantly reduce medication intake.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Pharmacology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Medication use is complex in chronic pain management due to multiple drugs and dosages.
- Quantifying medication intake is crucial for evaluating chronic-pain rehabilitation programs (CPRPs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate the Medication Quantification Scale (MQS) for assessing medication usage in chronic nonmalignant pain.
- To determine the reliability and validity of the MQS in a clinical setting.
Main Methods:
- Developed the MQS by assigning weights to medication classes and dosages.
- Assessed interrater reliability (rho = 0.985) and correlation with clinical judgment (mean rho = 0.755).
- Compared MQS scores in treated (CPRP) versus untreated chronic pain patients over one year.
Main Results:
- The MQS demonstrated high interrater reliability and strong correlation with expert clinical judgment.
- Patients in CPRPs showed a significant decrease in MQS scores (medication intake) over one year.
- Untreated patients did not exhibit a significant change in medication intake.
Conclusions:
- The Medication Quantification Scale (MQS) is a reliable and valid instrument for quantifying medication use in chronic pain patients.
- The MQS can effectively measure changes in medication intake, supporting the efficacy of CPRPs.