Authors:
Susan C. Golden,
MSN
Debbie Cagen, MSN
The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the relationship of children's perception pain and the use of analgesia. The Wong-Baker Faces Scale was administered to twenty-nine first day post-appendectomy (uncomplicated) patients at two South Florida hospitals to identify if culture, sex, age and postoperative interventions affected their perception at specific intervals. Chart reviews were conducted to gather the appropriate demographic information of the sample.
Data analysis was performed to support the hypothesis that medication affects children's perception of pain. The t-test of means of pain scores was applied to test the statistical difference between post and pre test observations. The data indicated that there was a significant decrease in children's pain level after medication. Changes seen in the examination of the non-medicated children were not statistically significant.
Further analysis did not show that age, sex, or culture contributed to the affect of medication on the child's perception of pain.
Children's pain perception and the relief of pain are paramount issues in pediatric nursing. Investigators and clinicians can better evaluate children's perception of pain by using assessment tools like the Wong-Baker Faces Scale. Through careful evaluation of children in pain, nurses will provide optimal care for their patients.
The Wong-Baker Faces scale was a good indicator of pain perception in the pediatric population. Our experiences were all positive during the data collection period. We found that the "faces" was preferred by children under 10 years of age. This may be due to the face being "babyish" to teens or maybe it was the repeated questioning using the same tool.
The tool was user friendly and quite easy to explain to the patient, as well as being compact to carry. Both data collectors felt comfortable using the tool and that the faces measured what was intended. With frequent use of the faces scale both validity and reliability should continue to be seen.
March 15, 2002
~ FACES Home ~
~
Wong on Web Home ~