Cited by 2,580Psychometric Methodologies and TestingHealth Education and ValidationPain Management and Opioid Use

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A critical review of visual analogue scales in the measurement of clinical phenomena

Wewers, Mary Ellen, Lowe, Nancy K.·1990·Research in Nursing & Health

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Abstract

Visual analogue scales (VAS) have been used in the social and behavioral sciences to measure a variety of subjective phenomena. The VAS method has potential utility for the measurement of a variety of clinical phenomena of interest to nurse investigators. In this review a description of the various forms of the VAS and an historical overview of their development are presented. In addition, conceptual, psychometric, and statistical aspects of the VAS are considered. Finally, strengths and limitations of the VAS method are addressed.

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Method
Untitled work
(2000) · doi:10.1002/1098-240x(200008)23:4

Authors: Wewers, M. E., & Lowe, N. K.
Affiliations: The Ohio State University (US)
Corresponding author: Wewers, Mary Ellen
ORCID: Lowe, Nancy K.
Venue: Research in Nursing & Health
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 1990-08
Volume: 13
Issue: 4
Pages: 227-236
ISSN: 0160-6891 (ISSN-L)
1098-240X
DOI: 10.1002/nur.4770130405
OpenAlex: W2120263268
Cited by: 2,580
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 74 · 2025: 104 · 2024: 87 · 2023: 149 · 2022: 112 · 2021: 160 · 2020: 123 · 2019: 132 · 2018: 137 · 2017: 142 · 2016: 154 · 2015: 143 · 2014: 147 · 2013: 139 · 2012: 128
FWCI: 5.94
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 6015 d)
Locations: Research in Nursing & Health (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
Health Sciences › Nursing › Research and Theory › Health Education and Validation
Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
Keywords: visual analogue scale, subjective indicators, clinical phenomena, psychometrics, measurement validity, measurement reliability, patient-reported outcomes
MeSH terms: Humans, Pain Measurement, Psychometrics, Reproducibility of Results, Nursing Research, Clinical Nursing Research

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A critical review of visual analogue scales in the measurement of clinical phenomena

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