Purpose/Aim: Allodynia is a common feature of neuropathic pain with few validated clinical evaluation options. We identified a need to estimate the measurement properties of the standardised evaluation procedure for static mechanical allodynia severity popularised by the somatosensory rehabilitation of pain method, known as the rainbow pain scale. This study (www.clinicaltrials.gov. NCT02070367) undertook preliminary investigation of the inter-rater and test-retest reliability of the rainbow pain scale.

Methods: Persons with pain in one upper extremity after Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, a peripheral nerve injury or a recent hand fracture were recruited for assessment of static mechanical allodynia threshold using calibrated monofilaments by two raters at baseline, and repeated assessment one week later.

Results: Single measures estimates suggested inter-rater reliability was substantial for the rainbow pain scale [intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.78 (n = 31), p < 0.001]. Test-retest reliability was also excellent at with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.87 [n = 28, p < 0.001]. However, confidence intervals suggest the true values could be more moderate, with lower bounds of the 95% confidence interval at 0.60 and 0.74, respectively.

Conclusions: This pilot study has generated preliminary support for the inter-rater and test-retest reliability of the rainbow pain scale. Future studies should seek to increase confidence in estimates of reliability, and estimate validity and responsiveness to change in persons with somatosensory disorders.

目的/目的：异常性疼痛是神经性疼痛的常见特征，几乎没有经过验证的临床评估选项。我们确定需要估计静态机械异常性疼痛严重程度标准化评估程序的测量特性，该程序通过疼痛的体感康复方法普及，称为彩虹疼痛量表。本研究（www.clinicaltrials.gov. NCT02070367）对彩虹疼痛量表的评分者间和重测信度进行了初步调查。

方法：招募患有复杂区域性疼痛综合征、周围神经损伤或近期手部骨折后出现一侧上肢疼痛的患者，在基线时由两名评估者使用校准的单丝评估静态机械性异常性疼痛阈值，并在一周后重复评估。

结果：单一测量估计表明，彩虹疼痛量表的评分者间可靠性相当高 [类内相关系数 = 0.78 ( n  = 31)，p  < 0.001]。重测信度也非常出色，组内相关系数为 0.87 [ n  = 28，p  < 0.001]。然而，置信区间表明真实值可能更适中，95% 置信区间的下限分别为 0.60 和 0.74。

结论：这项试点研究为彩虹疼痛量表的评分者间和重测信度提供了初步支持。未来的研究应寻求增加对可靠性估计的信心，并估计对躯体感觉障碍患者变化的有效性和反应性。