Development and validation of a home quantitative sensory testing tool-kit to assess changes in sensory and pain processing: A study in healthy young adults

Abstract

Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is a set of methods for quantifying somatosensory functioning. Limitations of laboratory-based QST (LQST) include high cost, complexity in training, lack of portability, and time requirements for testing. Translating QST to a home setting could facilitate future research and clinical care. The objective of this study was to develop a home QST (HQST) tool-kit that is cost-effective, easy to use, and detects changes in sensory and pain processing. Thirty-two young healthy adults underwent sensory testing on their nondominant forearm using standard in-person LQST, followed by "simulated HQST"using video guidance in a separate room from the investigator before and after application of either a lidocaine or capsaicin cream. We observed good agreement between HQST and LQST scores, with significant correlations observed between the pinprick, pressure, cold and heat measures (|ρ| range = 0.36-0.54). The participants rated the HQST protocol as highly acceptable and safe but can be improved in future implementations. Home QST was able to detect hypoesthesia to vibration after lidocaine cream application (P = 0.024, d = 0.502) and could detect hypoalgesia and hyperalgesia to pressure and heat pain sensitivity tests after application of lidocaine and capsaicin creams, respectively (P-value range = <0.001-0.036, d-value range = 0.563-0.901). Despite limitations, HQST tool-kits may become a cost-effective, convenient, and scalable approach for improving sensory profiling in clinical care and clinical research.