Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is a set of methods for quantifying somatosensory functioning. Limitations of laboratory-based QST (LQST) include high cost, complexity in training, lack of portability, and time requirements for testing. Translating QST to a home setting could facilitate future research and clinical care. The objective of this study was to develop a home QST (HQST) tool-kit that is cost-effective, easy to use, and detects changes in sensory and pain processing. Thirty-two young healthy adults underwent sensory testing on their nondominant forearm using standard in-person LQST, followed by "simulated HQST" using video guidance in a separate room from the investigator before and after application of either a lidocaine or capsaicin cream. We observed good agreement between HQST and LQST scores, with significant correlations observed between the pinprick, pressure, cold and heat measures (|ρ| range = 0.36-0.54). The participants rated the HQST protocol as highly acceptable and safe but can be improved in future implementations. Home QST was able to detect hypoesthesia to vibration after lidocaine cream application (P = 0.024, d = 0.502) and could detect hypoalgesia and hyperalgesia to pressure and heat pain sensitivity tests after application of lidocaine and capsaicin creams, respectively (P-value range = <0.001-0.036, d-value range = 0.563-0.901). Despite limitations, HQST tool-kits may become a cost-effective, convenient, and scalable approach for improving sensory profiling in clinical care and clinical research.

中文翻译：

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开发和验证家庭定量感觉测试工具包，以评估感觉和疼痛处理的变化：一项针对健康年轻人的研究。


定量感觉测试（QST）是一套量化体感功能的方法。基于实验室的 QST (LQST) 的局限性包括成本高、培训复杂、缺乏便携性以及测试时间要求。将 QST 应用于家庭环境可以促进未来的研究和临床护理。本研究的目的是开发一种家庭 QST (HQST) 工具包，该工具包具有成本效益、易于使用，并可检测感觉和疼痛处理的变化。 32 名年轻健康成年人使用标准的现场 LQST 对他们的非优势前臂进行了感官测试，然后在使用利多卡因或辣椒素乳膏之前和之后在与研究人员不同的房间内使用视频指导进行“模拟 HQST”。我们观察到 HQST 和 LQST 评分之间具有良好的一致性，并且在针刺、压力、冷热测量之间观察到显着相关性（|ρ| 范围 = 0.36-0.54）。参与者认为 HQST 协议高度可接受且安全，但可以在未来的实施中进行改进。 Home QST 能够检测应用利多卡因乳膏后对振动的感觉减退（P = 0.024，d = 0.502），并且可以分别检测应用利多卡因和辣椒素乳膏后对压力和热痛敏感性测试的痛觉减退和痛觉过敏（P 值范围 = <0.001-0.036，d 值范围 = 0.563-0.901）。尽管存在局限性，HQST 工具包可能成为一种经济有效、方便且可扩展的方法，用于改善临床护理和临床研究中的感觉分析。