Pediatric Pain Measurement, Assessment, and Evaluation

Assessment provides the foundation for diagnosis, selection of treatments, and evaluation of treatment effectiveness for pediatric patients with acute, recurrent, and chronic pain. Extensive research has resulted in the availability of a number of valid, reliable, and recommended tools for assessing children ʼs pain. Yet, evidence suggests childrenʼs pain is still not optimally assessed or treated. In this article, we provide an overview of pain assessment for premature neonates to adolescents. The difference between pain assessment and measurement is highlighted; and the key steps in pain assessment are identified.
Source: Seminars in Pediatric Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research