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Validity of simplified self-report methods versus standard use method for pain assessment in preschool-aged children
Petra Kasparova1, Jane Greaves2
1Centre for Science and Research, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Insights
Two validated pain assessment tools, the Simplified Faces Pain Scale (S-FPS) and Simplified Concrete Ordinal Pain Scale (S-COS), show good reliability for children aged 3-6 years. These scales aid in tailoring pain relief to individual needs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pain Management
- Child Psychology
- Healthcare Assessment Tools
Background:
- Children often experience intense pain during medical procedures, necessitating effective pain management strategies.
- Accurate pain assessment in young children is crucial for minimizing trauma and ensuring appropriate treatment.
- Self-assessment tools empower children to communicate their pain levels, aiding healthcare professionals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the Simplified Faces Pain Scale (S-FPS) and Simplified Concrete Ordinal Pain Scale (S-COS) for pediatric pain assessment.
- To evaluate the reliability and validity of S-FPS and S-COS in preschool-aged children.
- To provide evidence for the use of self-report pain scales in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 135 children aged 3-6 years who used S-FPS and S-COS to self-assess pain.
- Comparison of S-FPS and S-COS results with the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale.
- Statistical analysis using intra-class correlations (ICC) for inter-rater agreement and Spearman's correlation for convergent validity.
Main Results:
- Both S-FPS and S-COS demonstrated good validity in assessing pain in young children.
- High inter-rater reliability was confirmed by the ICC coefficients.
- A strong correlation was observed between the S-FPS and S-COS scales, indicating convergent validity.
Conclusions:
- The S-FPS and S-COS are valid and reliable tools for pediatric pain self-assessment.
- These scales can assist in individualizing pain management for children.
- The choice of pain assessment method should consider the child's developmental stage and personal preferences.
Purpose:
Children experience painful invasive procedures very intensely. The aim of health professionals is to help children minimize this traumatic experience. The Simplified Faces Pain Scale (S-FPS) and Simplified Concrete Ordinal Pain Scale (S-COS) tools offer children the possibility of self-assessing their pain. This can then be the basis for tailoring pain relief to the child's individual need. The aim of this study is to present the validation procedure of the S-FPC, S-COS methods.
Design And Methods:
135 children aged 3-6 years assessed their pain using the self-reported S-FPS and S-COS methods at three consecutive times, and their results were compared with the commonly used Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability assessment scale. Intra-class correlations (ICC) were used to assess inter-rater agreement. Convergent validity was verified using Spearman's correlation coefficient.
Results:
This study demonstrated good validity for both the S FPS and S-COS assessment tools. The ICC coefficient showed good inter-rater correlation. Spearman's correlation coefficient showed a strong correlation between the scales.
Practice Implications:
It is not possible to clearly select a best method of pain assessment in preschool children. To choose the most appropriate method, it is necessary to take into account the child's cognitive development and preferences.
