PAIN ASSESSMENT IN CHILDREN - BIRTH THROUGH ADOLESCENCE

A wide variety of unidimensional and multidimensional measures is avai lable for assessing pain in infants and children. In selecting the mos t appropriate measure, the child's age, cognitive level, verbal capabi lity, type of pain, and context need to be considered. The quality of the measure in terms of the psychometric properties established and th e purpose for assessment are also important. Although a number of reli able and valid measures now exists for assessment of acute pain for re search and clinical purposes, there is still a paucity of measurement instruments for assessing pain in developmentally and cognitively chal lenged children. These children are at particular risk for underassess ment and undertreatment of pain.