The role of developmental factors in predicting young children's use of a self-report scale for pain

Abstract

Accurate pain assessment is the foundation for effective pain management in children. At present, there is no clear consensus regarding the age at which young children are able to appropriately use self-report scales for pain. This study examined young children's ability to use the Faces Pain Scale-Revised; (FPS-R; [Hicks CL, von Baeyer CL, Spafford PA, van Korlaar I, Goodenough B. The Faces Pain Scale-Revised: toward a common metric in pediatric pain measurement. Pain 2001; 93: 173-83]) for pain in response to vignettes and investigated the role of developmental factors in predicting their ability to use the scale. One hundred and twelve healthy children (3-6 years old) were assessed for their ability to accurately use a common faces scale to rate pain in hypothetical vignettes depicting pain scenarios common in childhood. Accuracy was determined by considering whether children's judgements of pain severity matched the pain severity depicted in the various vignettes. Children were also administered measures of numerical reasoning, language, and overall cognitive development. Results indicated that 5- and 6-year-old children were significantly more accurate in their use of the FPS-R in response to the vignettes than 4-year-old children, who in turn were significantly more accurate than 3-year-old children. However, over half of the 6-year-olds demonstrated difficulties using the FPS-R in response to the vignettes. Child age was the only significant predictor of children's ability to use the scale in response to the vignettes. Thus, a substantial number of young children experienced difficulties using the FPS-R when rating pain in hypothetical vignettes, although the ability to use the scale did improve with age.

Avaliação do comportamento de crianças em situações de dor: revisão da literatura

“…25,26 It was found that the FPS was more accurate for pain self-assessment by children 6 and over than by children aged 3 to 5 years. 25 Furthermore, it was found that children aged 5 to 7 years of age exhibited greater control over their verbal reactions to the pain they felt than children from 3 to 4 years of age, in a study of immunization (intramuscular injections). 26 This is probably the result of the socialization process of children from 5 to 7, who acquire greater self-control of their behavior and control of impulsivity, thereby allowing them to inhibit manifestations about pain felt in the presence of other people.…”

“…[25][26][27] The FPS was used as a self-assessment pain scale with children from 3 to 7 years of age. 25,26 It was found that the FPS was more accurate for pain self-assessment by children 6 and over than by children aged 3 to 5 years.…”

“…[25][26][27] The FPS was used as a self-assessment pain scale with children from 3 to 7 years of age. 25,26 It was found that the FPS was more accurate for pain self-assessment by children 6 and over than by children aged 3 to 5 years. 25 Furthermore, it was found that children aged 5 to 7 years of age exhibited greater control over their verbal reactions to the pain they felt than children from 3 to 4 years of age, in a study of immunization (intramuscular injections).…”

Validation of Self-Report Pain Scales in Children

“…Previous studies have shown that a child' s age, sex, and ethnicity are related to the child' s ability to describe pain, as well as the child' s perception and sensitivity to pain. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] It is important, therefore, to determine whether the validity of the FPS-R and CAS varies in children based on their characteristics, and how suitable these scales are in different demographics.…”

The Early Childhood Generalized Trust Belief Scale

“…Additionally, this methodology reflects the fact that generalized trust includes interactions with others in a range of situations which may not have previously been encountered (Rotter, 1980). Further, similar methodologies have been used successfully to assess children's beliefs about other experiences such as pain (Stanford, Chambers, & Craig, 2006) and the intentions of others (Shiverick & Moore, 2007).…”