Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2025
Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device OPAD to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior
Published on: June 10, 2013
Evaluating the agreement between children and their parents on dental pain in children using the self-reported method
Vitória Oliveira Magalhães Brilhante1, Luciane Rezende Costa2, Patrícia Corrêa-Faria2
1Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
Background:
Having preschool children evaluate their dental pain can provide an additional insight into pain diagnoses and improve patient-centered care. This study aimed to evaluate the agreement between self-reported dental pain by preschoolers and their parents' report (proxy measure).
Design:
This cross-sectional study was conducted with children aged 4 to 6 years, and with one of their parents. Dental pain was reported using the Simplified Faces Pain Scale (S-FPS) and administered before the dental consultation. Dental pain was assessed using closed-ended questions, and a three-face scale was used to determine pain severity. The kappa and weighted kappa tests were used to evaluate the agreement between the children's self-report and their parents' report.
Results:
A total of 198 child-parent dyads participated. Current child dental pain was reported by 44.4% of the children and 36.9% of the parents. Severe pain was reported most frequently between children (17.1%) and parents (16.2%). The agreement on the severity of dental pain ranged from substantial (children aged 6 years and parents: weighted kappa = 0.372) to moderate (4-year-olds: 0.412; 5-year-olds: 0.453).
Conclusion:
Children and parents agreed on the child's dental pain. The use of the S-FPS among younger children appears valid and feasible for assessing dental pain.
