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Pain and Sedation Scales for Neonatal and Pediatric Patients in a Preverbal Stage of Development

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Ngeme Branddon
Pain and Sedation Scales for Neonatal and Pediatric Patients in a Preverbal Stage of Development

Key Points

Question  Which are the best validated scales to assess pain and sedation among children in a preverbal stage of development?

Findings  This systematic review evaluated 65 scales that have been used for assessing pain or sedation in preterm infants, term infants, or toddlers. Only 28 of 65 scales (43%) had been tested for construct validity, internal consistency, and interrater reliability.

Meaning  Clinicians should consider using well-validated scales when assessing pain or sedation in their target population; construct validity, internal consistency, and interrater reliability are prerequisites all such scales should provide.

Abstract

Importance  Because children in a preverbal stage of development are unable to voice their feelings, they completely depend on their caregiving team for the interpretation and management of their pain and discomfort. Thus, accurately validated scales to assess pain and sedation levels are crucial.

Objective  To provide clinicians a complete overview on the validity and reliability of the existing pain and sedation scales for different target populations (preterm infants, term infants, and toddlers) and in different clinical contexts.

Evidence Review  BIOSIS Previews, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycCRITIQUES, PsycINFO, PSYNDEXplus Literature and Audiovisual Media, and PSYNDEXplus Tests were the databases screened from their inception to August 2018. All studies examining the validity or reliability of a given pain or sedation scale for patients in a preverbal stage of development were included in this systematic review. Those scales that were tested for at least construct validity, internal consistency, and interrater reliability were subsequently scored using the consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments (COSMIN) checklist.

Findings  In total, 89 validation articles comprising 65 scales were included. Fifty-seven scales (88%) were useful for assessing pain, 13 scales (20%) for assessing sedation, and 4 scales (6%) for assessing both conditions. Forty-two (65%) were behavioral scales, and 23 (35%) were multidimensional scales. Eleven scales (17%) were validated for infants on mechanical ventilation. Thirty-seven scales (57%) were validated for preterm infants, 24 scales (37%) for term and preterm infants, 7 scales (11%) for term-born children, 7 scales (11%) for preterm infants, term infants, and toddlers, and 17 scales (26%) for term infants and toddlers. Twenty-eight scales (43%) considered construct validity, internal consistency, and interrater reliability.

Conclusions and Relevance  Clinicians should consider using scales that are validated for at least construct validity, internal consistency, and interrater reliability, combining this information with the population of interest and the construct the scale is intended to measure.

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Ngeme Branddon
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