Pain Assessment Scales in Children: A Comparative Narrative Review of Existing Tools

The aim of this study was to examine six different assessment tools for pain in children. The study sought to determine whether there were differences clinical usage among the various scales. Additionally, the study aimed to identify if any of the scales demonstrated superior sensitivity compared to the others.

Method and Materials: 

A narrative review of currently published studies was performed following standard guidelines. Online databases PUBMED and Google Scholar were searched for systematic reviews published before January 2024. The search terms initially included pain rating scales, pain measurement, pain intensity. Papers were examined for abstract relativity before being included. Ultimately, a total of 6 articles were selected for the final analysis.

The Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale and Faces Pain Scale (FPS) were found to be the most frequently mentioned as sensitive, valid, and reliable tools in various clinical scenarios. In terms of clinical application, the Oucher Scale and Poker Chip Pain Scale have not been utilized for chronic pain assessment, whereas the other four measures have been employed in different contexts including acute, chronic, and post-operative pain.

All six assessed instruments yielded noteworthy favorable outcomes when assessing acute pain in children aged three and above. However, their sensitivity, validity,and reliability varied.