Perception of pediatric pain: a comparison of postoperative pain assessments between child, parent, nurse, and independent observer

Paediatr Anaesth. 2014 Nov;24(11):1127-31. doi: 10.1111/pan.12484. Epub 2014 Jul 30.

Abstract

Introduction: Pain is a subjective experience. In children with limited understanding and communication skills, reliable assessment of pain is challenging. Self-reporting of pain is the gold standard of pain measurement. For children who are unable to self-report their pain, assessments made by their parents are often used as a proxy measure. The validity of this approach has not been conclusively determined.

Aim: To investigate differences in the assessment of pediatric pain between children, parents, nurses, and independent observers in the acute postoperative setting.

Method: Three hundred and seven children (207 verbal, 100 nonverbal) undergoing elective day-case surgery were asked to participate in this quality of care audit. Pain scores given by verbal children, their parents, nurses, and independent observers were collected. A numerical rating scale or the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale was used. All participants were blinded from other scorers.

Results: For verbal children, scores reported by patients and their parents did not differ significantly. Median [inter-quartile range (IQR)] scores by children, parents, nurses, and independent observers were, respectively, 2.0 (0-4.0), 2.0 (1.0-4.0), 0.0 (0-2.0), and 1.0 (0-2.0). In nonverbal children, median (IQR) scores by parents, nurses, and independent observers were 1.0 (0-3.0), 0 (0-1.0), and 0 (0-2.0), respectively. The agreement between the different scorers was statistically significant.

Conclusion: Children's pain self-reports should be used wherever possible to guide management, but in their absence, parental pain scores can be reliably used as a surrogate measure. Nurses and independent observers produce lower pain scores than parents or children, which may result in inadequate treatment of pain.

Keywords: child; pain; parent; pediatric anesthesia; perception; postoperative.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Nurses / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pain Measurement / methods*
  • Pain, Postoperative / diagnosis*
  • Parents*
  • Pediatrics / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Report*