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Zertifizierungsrichtlinien für QST-Labore

Procedure for certification of QST laboratories

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Zusammenfassung

Die quantitative sensorische Testung (QST) ist die standardisierte Erweiterung der klinisch-neurologischen Sensibilitätsprüfung. QST erlaubt eine vollständige Erfassung der Funktion aller sensorischer Submodalitäten. Im Gegensatz zur konventionellen Elektrophysiologie können positive und negative sensorische Veränderungen erfasst werden. Im Rahmen des Deutschen Forschungsverbundes Neuropathischer Schmerz (DFNS) wurden eine standardisierte QST-Testbatterie mit 13 Parametern etabliert und Normdaten erhoben. Die QST ist jedoch eine psychophysische Methode, die auch von der Mitarbeit des Patienten bzw. Probanden beeinflusst wird. Daher beinhaltet der standardisierte Untersuchungsablauf die einheitliche Instruktion und Applikation der Testreize, um die laborübergreifende Vergleichbarkeit der QST-Befunde/Messergebnisse zu ermöglichen.

Die Deutsche Gesellschaft zum Studium des Schmerzes (DGSS) hat daher in Zusammenarbeit mit dem DFNS Zertifizierungskriterien erarbeitet, um die Verbreitung der QST zu erleichtern. Die QST-Zertifizierung beinhaltet Kriterien zur Bewertung der Struktur-, Prozess- und Ergebnisqualität. Über die festgelegten Qualitätsstandards soll die QST-Zertifizierung nicht nur der Patientenversorgung zu gute kommen, sondern auch zur Verbesserung der Diagnostik in klinischen (Therapie-)Studien neuropathischer Schmerzsyndrome beitragen.

Abstract

Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is the standardized assessment of the somatosensory system comprising all sensory submodalities. In the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS), a QST-battery consisting of 13 parameters has been established and nationwide normative data have been collected. In contrast to conventional electrophysiology, QST allows detecting negative and positive sensory signs of both large and small fiber systems. However, as a subjective psychophysical method it is critically dependent on patients’ / healthy subjects’ cooperation thus strictly standardized protocols and instructions are needed to allow across laboratory comparisons. To facilitate more widespread use of QST, the German Pain Society (DGSS) and the DFNS have initiated a certification procedure for QST quality standards. Therefore, structural, procedural criteria and outcome parameters were establishd and are hereby presented.

By maintaining high quality standards, the certification of QST is intended to contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind neuropathic pain syndromes and thereby improve patient care as well as sensory assessment in clinical studies on the treatment of neuropathic pain syndromes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Deutschland

    C. Geber

  2. Abteilung für Schmerztherapie, Klinik für Anästhesiologie, Intensiv-, Palliativ- und Schmerzmedizin, Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil GmbH, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Deutschland

    A. Scherens & C. Maier

  3. Lehrstuhl für Neurophysiologie, CBTM, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim der Universität Heidelberg, Mannheim, Deutschland

    D. Pfau & R.-D. Treede

  4. Certkom e.V., Bochum, Bochum, Deutschland

    N. Nestler

  5. Klinik für Anästhesiologie, Intensiv-, Palliativ- und Schmerzmedizin, Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil GmbH, Bochum, Deutschland

    M. Zenz

  6. Klinik für Neurologie, Campus Kiel, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Schleswig-Holstein, Deutschland

    T. Tölle

  7. Klinik für Neurologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Deutschland

    R. Baron

Authors
  1. C. Geber
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  2. A. Scherens
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  3. D. Pfau
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  4. N. Nestler
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  5. M. Zenz
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  6. T. Tölle
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  7. R. Baron
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  8. R.-D. Treede
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  9. C. Maier
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Scherens.

Additional information

Die Autoren C. Geber und A. Scherens haben den gleichen Anteil zur Manuskripterstellung beigetragen.

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Geber, C., Scherens, A., Pfau, D. et al. Zertifizierungsrichtlinien für QST-Labore. Schmerz 23, 65–69 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00482-008-0771-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00482-008-0771-4

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