Concurrent Validity of the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale in VA Outpatients

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this report is to investigate the concurrent validity of the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) with other validated self-report measures in U.S. veterans. Design: This correlational study was conducted using two samples of outpatients at the Washington, DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center who completed self-report measures relevant to pain conditions, including pain disability, quality of life, and mental health. Study 1 and 2 consisted of n=204 and n=13 participants, respectively. Methods: Bivariate Spearman correlations were calculated to examine the correlation among total scores and subscale scores for each scale of interest. Multiple linear regressions were also computed in Study 1. Results: In Study 1, the DVPRS interference scale (DVPRS-II) was significantly correlated with the Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ) (ρ=0.69, P<0.001) and the Veterans RAND 36-item Health Survey physical and mental component scales (ρ=-0.37, P<0.001; ρ=-0.46, P<0.001, respectively). When controlling for sex, age, and other self-report measures, the relationship between the DVPRS-II and PDQ remained significant. In Study 2, pain interference on the DVPRS and Brief Pain Inventory were highly correlated (ρ=0.90, P<0.001); however, the intensity scale of each measure was also highly associated with the interference summary scores. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence for the concurrent validity of the DVPRS as a brief, multidimensional measure of pain interference that make it a practical tool for use in primary care settings to assess the impact of pain on daily functioning and monitor chronic pain over time.