Abstract
Most children aged five years and older can provide meaningful self-reports of pain intensity if they are provided with age-appropriate tools and training. Self-reports of pain intensity are an oversimplification of the complexity of the experience of pain, but one that is necessary to evaluate and titrate pain-relieving treatments. There are many sources of bias and error in self-reports of pain, so ratings need to be interpreted in light of information from other sources such as direct observation of behaviour, knowledge of the circumstances of the pain and parents' reports. The pain intensity scales most commonly used with children - faces scales, numerical rating scales, visual analogue scales and others - are briefly introduced. The selection, limitations and interpretation of self-report scales are discussed.
Highlights
Carl L von Baeyer PhD RDPsychChildren’s self-reports of pain intensity: Scale selection, limitations and interpretation
The pain intensity scales most commonly used with children – faces scales, numerical rating scales, visual analogue scales and others – are briefly introduced
The Numerical rating scales (NRS)-11, have not been adequately tested in research with child participants; they are the scales most frequently used for children older than eight years of age because they have the advantage of requiring no equipment
Summary
Children’s self-reports of pain intensity: Scale selection, limitations and interpretation. The pain intensity scales most commonly used with children – faces scales, numerical rating scales, visual analogue scales and others – are briefly introduced. The selection, limitations and interpretation of self-report scales are discussed. Les autoévaluations d’intensité de la douleur par les enfants : la sélection des échelles, leurs limites et leur interprétation. Les autoévaluations de l’intensité de la douleur sont une sursimplification de la complexité de l’expérience de la douleur, mais elles s’imposent pour évaluer et titrer les traitements analgésiques. Les échelles d’intensité de la douleur les plus utilisées chez les enfants, soit les échelles des visages, les échelles d’évaluation numérique, les échelles visuelles analogiques et d’autres, sont présentées brièvement. Les limites et l’interprétation des échelles d’autoévaluation sont présentées
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