TCM Pattern Questionnaire for Lateral Elbow Pain: Development of an Instrument via a Delphi Process

Table 3

Final LEP pattern differentiation questionnaire.

Item	Experts agree % ()
Local symptoms:
() Does your elbow feel cold?	88
() Does your elbow feel hot?	92
() Does cold exposure increase the pain?	100
() Does cold exposure relieve the pain?	80
() Does heat exposure increase the pain?	80
() Does heat exposure relieve the pain?	96
() Do you strongly dislike cold on your elbow?	92
() Do you strongly dislike wind on your elbow?	78
() Do you strongly dislike heat on your elbow?	71
() Does local pressure increase the pain?	100
() Does local pressure relieve the pain?	88
() Does movement increase the pain?	100
() Does movement relieve the pain?	88
() Does rest increase the pain?	84
() Does rest relieve the pain?	100
() Which term best describes your pain?	100
Dull, lingering	92
Cramping	100
Stabbing	96
Hot, burning	88
Numbness sensation	88
() How severe is your pain?	100
Mild	96
Medium	100
Severe	100
() Is there any uncomfortableness during movement?	96
None	95
Mild	95
Medium	96
Severe	95
() How was the onset of your elbow pain?	100
Slow, gradual onset	100
Sudden onset	100
() How long have you had the condition?	100
More than 3 months	100
1 week–3 months	100
Less than 1 week	100
() Is the pain intermittent or constant?	100
Intermittent	100
Constant	100
() How severely does your elbow pain affect your ability to carry out routine tasks (e.g. driving, opening jars, carrying shopping bags)?	100
Not at all	95
Mildly	96
Medium	100
Severely	100
Systemic symptoms:
() Do your hands and feet usually feel cold?	92
() Do your entire arms and legs usually feel cold?	88
() Do your hands and feet usually feel too hot?	67
() Are your hands and feet usually sweaty?	74
() Do you often experience spontaneous sweating over your entire body?	78
() Does your entire body usually feel heavy?	80
() Do you usually have a feeling of fullness, especially in the epigastric region (upper area of the belly)?	67
() Do you usually feel full or bloated after eating?	75
() Do your arms and legs usually feel weak?	76
() Do you experience numbness in your arms and legs?	80
() Does eating cold foods (e.g. watermelon, salads, ice-cold drinks) increase the pain?	58
() Does eating warm food (e.g. chili, pepper, ginger, hot soups) increase the pain?	54
() Does eating warm food (e.g. chili, pepper, ginger, hot soups) decrease the pain?	68
() Do you usually have poor appetite?	61
() Do you usually have excessive appetite?	57
() Do you usually feel thirsty?	63
() Do you usually feel thirsty, but you do not want to drink?	67
() Are you usually not thirsty at all?	67
() Do you usually have loose stools?	67
() Do you usually have dry stools?	63
() Do you usually have copious, clear urine?	71
() Do you usually have scanty, dark-yellow urine?	63
() Do you have urinary difficulties?	52
() Do you usually feel tired and easily fatigued?	79
() Do you usually feel restless and/or agitated?	74
() Do you have difficulties sleeping and/or shallow sleep	78
() Do you frequently experience mood changes?	70
() Do you easily get angry?	83
() Are you usually worried and/or anxious?	70
() Does your head usually feel heavy?	67
() Do you usually feel dizzy?	61
() Do you usually have a lot of saliva in your mouth?	55
() Do you usually experience a bitter taste in your mouth, especially in the morning?	61
() Do you usually have a sticky taste in your mouth?	65
() Are you usually short of breath?	70
Physical signs:
() The elbow feels cold to touch (to the practitioner)?	96
() The elbow feels warm to touch (to the practitioner)?	92
() The elbow is swollen and/or reddened?	92
() Does the face appear pale and/or lusterless?	87
() Does the complexion appear oily?	73
() Does the complexion appear reddened and/or dry?	74
() Does the complexion appear dark?	74
() Do the lips appear brittle?	70
() Do the lips appear purple?	83
() Do the lips appear excessively red?	65
() Do the nails appear brittle?	74
() Does the voice appear strong?	65
() Does the voice appear soft?	74
Tongue and pulse features:
() Tongue features	91
Pale tongue	86
Red tip of the tongue	76
Red tongue	78
Scanty fur	77
Slimy fur	78
Thick fur	76
Thin fur	86
White fur	87
Yellow fur	77
() Pulse features	92
Fine pulse	91
Rapid pulse	82
Slippery pulse	77
String-like pulse	91
Sunken pulse	86
Replete (strong) pulse	82
Weak pulse	87