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The Verbal Numerical Rating Scale and Faces Pain Scale-Revised for Children With Acute Pain: A Comparative Study for
Varsha Lamture1, Yashwant R Lamture2
1Pediatrics, Datta Meghe Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education & Research, Nagpur, IND.
Insights
This study found that the verbal numerical rating scale (vNRS) and faces pain scale-revised (FPS-R) are equally effective for assessing pain in pediatric patients. Both scales are valuable tools for managing and recognizing pain in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Pain Management
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- Pain is a primary complaint in all age groups, necessitating accurate severity assessment for effective therapy.
- Pain scales are underutilized in Indian hospitals, particularly for pediatric patients, highlighting a need for effectiveness data.
- Accurate pain assessment in children is crucial for appropriate treatment and improved patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness and reliability of two pain assessment scales in admitted pediatric patients.
- To evaluate the utility of the verbal numerical rating scale (vNRS) and the faces pain scale-revised (FPS-R) in a pediatric setting.
- To provide data on the efficacy of different pain scales for children in India.
Main Methods:
- An observational study involving pediatric patients aged 8-17 admitted to a tertiary care unit.
- Pain severity was assessed using the verbal numerical rating scale (vNRS) and the faces pain scale-revised (FPS-R).
- Statistical analysis, including a two-tailed t-test, was performed to compare the efficacy of the two scales.
Main Results:
- 140 children were enrolled; data from 37 participants were excluded due to lack of understanding of the scales.
- The two-tailed t-test yielded a p-value of 0.9144, which is not statistically significant (p > 0.05).
- The results suggest no significant difference in efficacy and reliability between the vNRS and FPS-R scales.
Conclusions:
- Both the vNRS and FPS-R demonstrate equal efficacy in assessing pain in pediatric patients.
- Pain scales are practical guides for managing and recognizing pain in children, aiding in timely and effective treatment.
- Regular use of validated pain scales can optimize healthcare delivery and reduce the burden on medical staff.
Abstract:
Introduction The primary complaint in all age groups of patients, including children, is pain, which drives the patient to the hospital. A good assessment of pain severity is necessary to determine the right therapy for this primary complaint. Pain scales, especially in children, are given little importance in all hospitals in India. We need more data about its effectiveness. As a result, we conducted this study to compare the effectiveness of two pain scales in an admitted patient. Methods An observational study was conducted on pediatric patients aged 8-17 admitted to a tertiary care unit in pediatric wards included in the study. The study team identified the participants with painful and nonpainful conditions by asking patients of the above age group if they had "any pain" or "any hurt." The verbal numerical rating scale (vNRS) was determined by asking, "On a scale of zero to 10, where zero signifies no pain and ten means severe pain." The child was advised to select from among the six faces using the faces pain scale-revised (FPS-R), showing increasing levels of pain intensity (from left to right), with score options 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 demonstrated below each face. Result We enrolled 140 children, of which 22 of vNRS and 15 of FPS-R were removed from the study as these children did not understand vNRS and FPS-R. The two-tailed t-test revealed that the p-value was 0.9144. By conventional criteria, in the context of statistical analysis, conventional criteria typically refer to commonly accepted thresholds for determining statistical significance. The most common threshold for significance is a p-value of 0.05 or less. In the provided scenario, the two-tailed t-test resulted in a p-value of 0.9144. By conventional criteria (i.e., using the threshold of 0.05), this p-value is considered not significant. This means that there is not enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis, which suggests that there is no significant difference between the two groups being compared (in this case, the efficacy and reliability of the two scales). Therefore, based on conventional criteria, the difference in efficacy and reliability between the two scales is considered not significant, indicating that they are likely to be equally effective and reliable. This difference is considered not significant. Hence, it is suggestive of equal efficacy and reliability on both scales. Conclusion Pain scales are a practical guide for managing and recognizing pain in children. It needs to be considered in identifying children's pain. They can provide a valuable outcome for measuring pain, which, when practiced regularly, can save time and extra burden on health staff. In the present study, both pain scales (vNRS and FPR-R) have equal efficacy.
