How Reliable are ‘Valid and Reliable‘ Pain Scores in the Pediatric Clinical Setting?

Abstract

SUMMARY Over the past decade, growing clinician skepticism and inconsistent use of self-report pain scales have raised important questions regarding the clinical meaning and interpretation of pain scores. The appropriate use of pain scores at the bedside requires an understanding of what they may mean to the child who is providing them. This article summarizes the evidence regarding pain score meaning, showing that despite the established psychometric properties of pain scales, pain score numbers mean different things to different children, complicating the clinical interpretation. The evidence suggests that it is inappropriate to use standardized pain score thresholds for treatment or evaluation, and suggests an individualized approach to the interpretation and use of pain scores is needed.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.