Propriedades clinimétricas do mapa da dor e caracterização de área de dor em mulheres com dismenorreia primária

Abstract

Objectives: Assess the convergent validity, test-retest reliability, intra- and inter-rater reliability and measurement errors of the body map to assess pain related to primary dysmenorrhea (PD). Methods: Cross-sectional study with adult women with PD self-report in the three months prior to the study. They completed an anamnesis, the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and the body map during the menstrual period of two consecutive menstruations. The body maps were digitalized and assessed (ImageJ software) for the calculation of total pain area in percentage. Intra- and inter-rater reliability of the second menstruation and the test-retest reliability between the first and the second menstruations were assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Spearman correlation (rho) was used to check the correlation between the total pain area and pain intensity of the two menstruations. Results: Fifty-six women (24.1±3.1 years old) participated of the study. Mean pain intensity on the first and second menstruations was 6.7±1.8 and 5.7±2.0 points. Reliability was considered excellent (ICC>0.75) for the total pain area. Correlation between total pain area and pain intensity was moderate in the first (rho=0.30; p=0.021) and in the second menstruations (rho=0.40; p=0.002). Conclusion: The use of the body map to assess total pain area related to PD was considered a reliable and valid measurement.