Background:
Pain is often defined as the fifth vital sign, and it should be assessed and recorded as often as other vital signs. Assessment of pain is essential for proper care and management in children and could lead to long term physical and psychological sequela if not treated effectively. The current study aimed at assessment of pain level in pediatric patients admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department, The Military hospital, Al-Kharj City, Saudi Arabia, using standardized pain assessment scales.
Methodology:
A cross-sectional study consisting of 500 children hospitalized in the Pediatric Emergency Department, The Military hospital, Al-Kharj City, Saudi Arabia was carried out in five months period from January 2018 to May 2018. On admission and at 8 hours after admission, physicians assessed pain level using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scale (FLACC) scale for children less than four years and Wong-Baker scale for children four years and above.
Results:
Among the total of 500 patients, 128 patients (25.6%) had no pain, 132 patients (26.4%) had mild pain, 186 patients (37.2%) had moderate pain, and 54 patients (11%) patients had severe pain. The prevalence of pain at admission was found to be 74 %,(372) among children who had some degree of pain at admission. There was an improvement in the pain score after administration of analgesics (8hours after admissions) as compared with the pain score at admission (before administration of analgesics) with significant p-value (< 0.05).
Conclusion: Pain scales are inexpensive methods to improve pain management in children. The current study conclusion agrees that optimal pain management is the right of all patients and the responsibility of all health professionals.
Key words: Pain assessment, pain scale, children, pain management
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