Translation of the Self Completed-Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs Pain Scale

Translation and Validation of the Traditional Chinese-Cantonese Version of the Self Completed-Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs Pain Scale

Neuropathic pain, described as 'pain arising as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease on the somatosensory system', affects up to 3-9.8% of the investigators' population, but is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. As treatment is different for patients with neuropathic pain and nociceptive pain, it is important to screen for neuropathic pain. Commonly employed questionnaire-based diagnostic tools in English speaking countries include the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs pain scale (LANSS) and Neuropathic pain questionnaire (NPQ). Self-completed LANSS is particularly useful as it is not restricted to clinician's examination and can be applied in large-scale research. S-LANSS has been successfully translated, validated and used successfully in Arabic and Turkish, but it has not been utilised in the Chinese population. As verbal translations of the English questionnaires used at the bedside may be prone to errors in interpretation and requires medical practitioners to interpret the questions. Therefore a translation and validation study is essential.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Native Chinese-Cantonese speaker
2. Aged 18 to 80
3. Presence of pain for more than 3 months
4. Able to understand, read and write Traditional Chinese
5. Able to give informed written consent
6. Ability to complete the questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who require active pain treatment and / or intervention within 1 week after the initial consultation
2. Voluntary withdrawal from study at any stage