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Measurement of acute pain after eye surgery in children
1Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon Medical School, Gil Medical Center, Inchon, Korea.
Insights
The Face Pain Rating Scale (FPRS) effectively measures acute pain in children after eye surgery. This reliable and valid tool aids in managing pediatric post-operative pain.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Pain Management
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Acute pain is common after pediatric eye surgery.
- Accurate pain assessment is crucial for effective management.
- Existing scales may have limitations in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Face Pain Rating Scale (FPRS) for assessing acute post-operative pain in children undergoing eye surgery.
- To test the validity and reliability of the FPRS against the Numeric/Word Graphic Rating Scale (NWGRS).
Main Methods:
- Children's pain was measured using FPRS and NWGRS at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours post-surgery.
- Repeated Measures ANOVA analyzed pain intensity changes.
- Pearson correlation assessed the relationship between FPRS and NWGRS.
Main Results:
- Two-thirds of children reported moderate to severe pain at 2 hours post-surgery.
- Significant pain persisted up to 24 hours, with only 34.4% pain-free.
- High correlation (r = .735–.887) confirmed FPRS validity and reliability.
Conclusions:
- The FPRS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing acute pain in Korean children post-eye surgery.
- FPRS can be integrated into clinical protocols for pediatric pain management.
- Effective pain management strategies, including non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches, are warranted.
Abstract:
This study was performed to assess the degree of acute pain in children following eye surgery using a Face Pain Rating Scale (FPRS), with a validity and reliability test employing a Numeric/Word Graphic Rating Scale (NWGRS). The degree of pain was obtained at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 hours after surgery using the FPRS and NWGRS. The changes in pain intensities were analyzed using a RM-ANOVA, while the relationship between the FPRS and NWGRS was analyzed by a Pearson coefficient in SPSS/WIN. Two third of the children experienced pain equal to, or greater, than moderate to severe, and about one fifth of the subjects expressed the most severe pain at 2 hours after surgery. At 4 hours after surgery, 95.3% of the children still complained of pain, and 8 hours after surgery, 82.8% of the patients experienced 'a little bit' or 'a little more' pain or discomforts. At 1 day after surgery, only 34.4% of children were free of pain. A high correlation between the FPRS and NWGRS was identified over 5 time-points (.887 < r < .735). The gender, type of the surgery and past operation experience had no effects on the degree of pain. Our results suggest that FPRS is a reliable and valid measurement for acute pain assessment in Korean children following eye surgery, and warrants application in the integrated clinical protocol, including non-pharmacological and pharmacological management of acute pediatric pain reduction following surgery.
