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Evaluation of Preference of Pain Scale in Children using Novel Animated Emoji Scale in Nepal: An Observational Study
Ankita Agrawal1, Manisha Upadhyay1
1Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Universal College of Medical Sciences, College of Dental Surgery, Bhairahawa, Lumbini, Nepal.
Insights
Children aged 3-10 preferred the Animated Emoji Scale (AES) for reporting pain, while older children (11-14) favored the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). This study compared pain assessment tools for pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Pain Management
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Assessing pain in children is challenging due to communication barriers.
- Several pain rating scales exist to aid self-reporting in pediatric dental patients.
- This study evaluated three common scales: Animated Emoji Scale (AES), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBFPS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the preference of AES, VAS, and WBFPS among pediatric patients.
- To identify age-related preferences for specific pain assessment tools in children.
Main Methods:
- A hospital-based cross-sectional study involved 182 children aged 3-14 years.
- Participants were divided into three age groups: 3-6, 7-10, and 11-14 years.
- Pain scores were recorded using AES, VAS, and WBFPS; data were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation and Chi-square tests.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was found among the three pain rating scales.
- A statistically significant association (p<0.001) existed between age group and preferred pain scale.
- AES was preferred by younger children (3-10 years).
Conclusions:
- The Animated Emoji Scale (AES) is highly preferred by younger pediatric patients (3-10 years).
- The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is more favored by older children (11-14 years) for self-reporting pain.
- Age significantly influences the choice of pain assessment tool in pediatric dentistry.
Introduction:
Pain is a common concern for pediatrics patients, maybe challenging because the child cannot properly explain the extent of pain they are experiencing. Several pain assessment tools have been developed and introduced in dentistry that facilitate self-report of pain in children. Three such pain rating scales Animated Emoji Scale, Visual Analogue Scale and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale were used in this study to evaluate the pain perception among pediatric patients. This study was aimed to evaluate the preference of pain scale among these three scales in pediatrics patients.
Methods:
This hospital based cross sectional study was carried out from January till June in 182 children aged between 3-14 years divided into three groups on the basis of age: Group A (3-6 years, Group B 7-10 years, and Group C 11-14 years). Ethical clearance was taken (Reference number: UCMS/IRC/02/25). Pain score was recorded among these children using Animated Emoji Scale (AES), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBFPS). The data were entered into Excel and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA).
Results:
Spearman's rank correlation coefficient evaluated a positive correlation among the three pain rating scales. Chi-square test showed statistically significant association between age group and preferred pain scale (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
AES was most preferred in younger age groups from age 3-10 years whereas elder children 11-14 years relied more on VAS as a self-reporting tool.
