Validation of a six‐graded faces scale for evaluation of postoperative pain in children

Background: The faces pain scales are often used for self‐report assessment of paediatric pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a six‐graded faces pain scale after surgery by comparing the level of agreement between the children's report of faces pain scores and experienced nurses’ assessment of pain by observation of behaviour. The faces pain scores before, at and after administration of analgesics were analysed. The study was performed in two South African hospitals, one with a mainly rural population and the other with an urban population.

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