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Reliability of thermal quantitative sensory testing: a systematic review
Niamh A Moloney1, Toby M Hall, Catherine M Doody
1School of Public Health, Physiotherapy, and Population Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. n_moloney@yahoo.com
Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
|July 10, 2012
Summary
Reliability of thermal quantitative sensory testing (QST) varies. While cold and warm detection thresholds show poor to excellent reliability, heat and cold pain thresholds range from fair to excellent, indicating a need for improved research methods.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Sensory Physiology
Background:
- Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) is increasingly used to characterize somatosensory profiles and pain mechanisms.
- Establishing the reliability of thermal QST is crucial for its widespread application.
- Current literature lacks a comprehensive assessment of thermal QST reliability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and evaluate the reliability of thermal quantitative sensory testing (QST) parameters.
- To identify the range of reliability estimates for different thermal QST measures.
- To assess the methodological quality of studies examining thermal QST reliability.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across major medical databases.
- Inclusion of 21 studies, with 5 assessed as high methodological quality.
- Reliability data evaluated using the Quality Appraisal for Reliability Studies checklist.
- Narrative analysis of reliability estimates.
Main Results:
- Reliability estimates for thermal QST parameters showed considerable variability.
- Cold and warm detection thresholds demonstrated reliability ranging from poor to excellent.
- Heat and cold pain thresholds exhibited reliability from fair to excellent.
- Methodological quality, especially blinding, requires enhancement in future research.
Conclusions:
- The reliability of thermal QST parameters is variable, necessitating careful interpretation.
- Improvements in research methodology, particularly blinding, are recommended for future thermal QST reliability studies.
- Further high-quality research is needed to solidify the reliability of thermal QST in pain research.
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