QSTROBOT: Impact on Pain Sensitivity of Clinical Interaction
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Pain can currently be quantified using quantitative sensory tests (QSTs). However, we lack knowledge concerning how relational and contextual factors impact these quantitative tests. We will examine how a standard QST battery is affected by "removing" the social and human interaction from the test session compared to usual QST testing where the participant is guided through the assessment by a research assistant.
Our objectives are:
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How is the QST affected when guided by a research assistant compared to guided by a computer
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Does the level of the assessor's empathy affect the QST outcome
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How do psychological factors affect the QST testing
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are these outcomes affected by the patient profile (low back pain patients vs healthy controls)
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Automated QST procedure The QST robot will autonomously perform i) pressure pain thresholds at the tibialis anterior, ii) the cold-pressor test, and iii) repeat the pressure pain threshold. All verbal information is giving through the computer |
Device: Quantitative sensory testing
The following QSTs are conducted:
The pressure pain threshold on the tibialis anterior
The Cold-pressor test
Repeat of the pressure pain threshold to assess conditioned pain modulation
|
| Active Comparator: Manual QST procedure The research assistant will perform i) pressure pain thresholds at the tibialis anterior, ii) the cold-pressor test, and iii) repeat the pressure pain threshold. All tests are performed manually without using the robot. |
Device: Quantitative sensory testing
The following QSTs are conducted:
The pressure pain threshold on the tibialis anterior
The Cold-pressor test
Repeat of the pressure pain threshold to assess conditioned pain modulation
|
| Active Comparator: Semi-automated QST procedure The QST robot will with guidance from the research assistant perform i) pressure pain thresholds at the tibialis anterior, ii) the cold-pressor test, and iii) repeat the pressure pain threshold. However and in contrast to the first arm, all verbal information and procedure guiding is given by a research assistant. |
Device: Quantitative sensory testing
The following QSTs are conducted:
The pressure pain threshold on the tibialis anterior
The Cold-pressor test
Repeat of the pressure pain threshold to assess conditioned pain modulation
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- The Conditioned pain modulation effect [changes in kPa] [Baseline]
Between-group differences in conditioned pain modulation (CPM). The CPM [range -1000;1000 kPa] is measured as the change between a pressure pain threshold test before and after a cold pressor test (2 minutes of immersion the left hand in ice water].
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Pressure pain threshold [Baseline]
Between-group differences in pressure pain threshold [range 0-1000 kPa] as measured before the cold pressor test
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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Primary complaint of low back pain
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No pain for healthy controls
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No serious psychological or somatic disorders potentially interfering with the QST
Exclusion Criteria:
- Incomplete QST data
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spine Centre of Southern Denmark | Middelfart | Denmark | 5500 | |
| 2 | The Spine Center of Southern Denmark | Middelfart | Denmark | 5500 | |
| 3 | Department of Physocolgy | Odense | Denmark | 5230 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Spine Centre of Southern Denmark
- University of Southern Denmark
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Søren Neill, PhD, Director of research
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- QSTROBOT