A comparison of response profiles obtained on the mcgill pain questionnaire and an adjective checklist

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Abstract
The response profiles on the McGill Pain Qestionnaire (MPQ) were compared with those obtained from a checklist format, consisting of the 78 MPQ words arranged in random order. Both forms were administered to 3 patient groups: primiparae experiencing post-episiotomy pain (n = 60); outpatients attending a rheumatology clinic (n = 60); and inpatients having undergone wisdom tooth extraction (n = 60). The order of administration was balanced, so that within each group 40 patients received either one of the study forms and 20 patients received both, yielding total sample sizes of 120 and 60 for further statistical analyses. Comparison of numbers of words checked in the 2 formats showed considerable similarity and so for purposes of further comparison, the MPQ structure was imposed on the checklist. This permitted comparison of summary scores, with no significant differences in mean level, with the sole exception of the evaluative subscale. Comparison of individual subgroup profiles on both forms also showed considerable similarity. A 2nd objective was to compare the format in discriminating between patient groups. The MPQ offered a higher correct classification rate, although there was little in it, with MPQ subgroup scores rather than subscale scores showing marginally better results.