Objectives: To determine the association between priming and measurements of hand function such as grip strength Primary null hypothesis: There is no difference in grip strength (best of three attempts) as a percent of the opposite hand between patients that complete the standard Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) compared to patients that complete the positively adjusted PCS. Secondary null hypotheses: There is no difference in grip strength (last of three attempts) as a percent of the opposite hand between patients that complete the standard PCS compared to patients that complete the positively adjusted PCS. There is no difference in grip strength (best of three attempts) before and after completing the questionnaires between patients that complete the standard PCS compared to patients that complete the positively adjusted PCS.
Priming affects all aspects of human behavior. Prior research by the investigators' group determined that completing a positively phrased version of the pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) primed patients to report less disability on average than completing the standard PCS. The influence of priming can be better understood by determining if it also affects direct measurements of hand function such as grip strength measures.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
122
Subject completes the standard version of the PCS Questionnaire
Research Assistant takes Grip Strength Measurements
Subject completes the positively-adjusted version of the PCS Questionnaire
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)
The pain catastrophizing scale is a 13-item scale to measure catastrophic thinking. The scale is from 0-4 and scores range from 0-52, a lower score indicates less catastrophic thinking about pain.
Time frame: enrollment
Positive Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)
The positive pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) is a positively-phrased 13-item scale to measure catastrophic thinking. The scale is from 0-4 and scores range from 0-52, a higher score indicates less catastrophic thinking about pain.
Time frame: enrollment
Difference in Grip Strength Measured With Dynamometer
Difference in Grip strength of the non-affected hand after completing intervention. Each participant completed the grip strength measurement 3 times on the non-affected hand at enrollment (day 1). The results reported represent an increase or decrease in mean grip strength and maximum grip strength after completing the intervention.
Time frame: Day 1
Difference in Grip Strength Measured With Dynamometer
Difference in Grip strength of the injured hand after completing intervention. Each participant completed the grip strength measurement 3 times on the injured hand at enrollment (day 1). The results reported represent an increase or decrease in mean grip strength and maximum grip strength after completing the intervention.
Time frame: Day 1
Difference in Grip Strength Measured With Dynamometer
Difference in Grip strength of both hands after completing intervention. Each participant completed the grip strength measurement 3 times with both hands at enrollment (day 1). The results reported represent an increase or decrease in mean grip strength and maximum grip strength after completing the intervention.
Time frame: Day 1
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