Measuring Pain in Children

A new study of acute pain in children has determined that increases or decreases in pain scores become clinically significant at similar levels for children and adults—10 mm on a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS). The study was conducted by researchers at the department of emergency medicine, Western Hospital, Melbourne (Australia).

VAS is the method commonly used for quantifying the severity of pain and relief. To assess the quality of pain management and to evaluate new pain-management techniques, pain must be measured, results analyzed, and differences assessed for clinical significance. The current study involved 73 children, 8-15 years old, who suffered from head/face trauma, back trauma, abdominal trauma, and headaches. They were asked to rate their pain on a scale marked at one end as "no pain” and at the other as "worst pain ever.” At 20-minute intervals, they were then asked to rate their pain as "heaps better,” "a bit better,” much the same,” "a bit worse,” or "heaps worse.”

"Children differ from adults in many ways, and thus, it was quite possible that minimum pain scores for children could be different from adults,” said Anne-Maree Kelly, MD, one of the researchers. "This study confirmed that the minimum measurement of pain in children is similar to that for adults, and it will help us continue to evaluate and manage pain in children.”



Related Links:
American College of Emergency Physicians