Statistical analysis
pain
The statistical analyses are run in SPSS software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA, Version 16) with a significance level of 5% and a 95% confidence interval. Descriptive data are reported as the mean ± SD. A chi-square test is run for qualitative variables, and a student’s t test is run to compare pain and Global symptom scores between the subject groups. Repeated measurements of ANOVA are applied to compare the Visual Analog Scale score and Global Symptom score trends within and between the groups.