The Graphic Rating Scale (GRS) is a version of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) that helps patients subjectively rate their pain severity. The VAS is a straight line that allows patients to rate their pain severity from “No pain” to “Pain as bad as it could be”. The GRS is a VAS with descriptive intervals (i.e., Mild, Moderate, Severe) included along the straight line, which might assist patients in rating their pain severity along the line.
Measures Registry
Graphic Rating Scale (GRS)
Description
Purpose
The GRS (and the VRS measure that it is based on) allows patients to subjectively rate their pain severity using a visual scale.
Population
Patients experiencing pain
Year of Publication
1976
Reference
Scott, J., & Huskisson, E. C. (1976). Graphic representation of pain. Pain, 2, 175-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3959(76)90113-5
Number of Items
1
Scale Types (Likert=Likert Type; MC=Multiple Choice; T/F=True/False; OR=Open Response)
Likert Type
Likert: Responses change on the visual analog scale depending on the scale type and the item (e.g., 0 = Pain as bad as it could be to 20 = No pain; 0 = Severe to 20 = None)
Subscales
N/A
Scoring
The study utilized six different visual scale types, including three horizontal and three vertical. Scoring information for each scale type can be found in the methods section of the source article.
Administration
Self-Administered
Readability/ Literacy Level
N/A
Reliability
N/A
Validity
The experiments labeled I, II, and VII in the source article observed strong correlations between the VAS and GRS and the simple descriptive pain scale. Specifically, these correlations ranged from r = 0.60 to 0.90.
Limitations
N/A
Availability
Publicly Available
Cost
Free
Other Considerations
N/A