Abstract: Objective To evaluate the concurrent validity and preference of pain intensity assessment scales in elderly with back pain. Methods 30 elderly with back pain were asked to rate their pains by using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS), Facial Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R), and Mix scale (MIX). Concurrent validity was assessed using the Spearman correlations. The preference for using scales were collected. Results FPS-R、MIX、VAS and VDS correlated with NRS (r=0.753~0.957, P<0.001). The preference for using scales was ranked by FPS-R, NRS, VDS, MIX, VAS. Conclusion FPS-R、MIX、VAS and VDS show good concurrent validity, and they were appropriated to evaluate the back pain among elderly. FPS-R had the highest scale preference.

Key words: back pain, elderly, pain intensity assessment scale, concurrent validity, preference