Journal for specialists in pediatric nursing : JSPN
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J Spec Pediatr Nurs · Apr 2008
ReviewFacial expression and pain assessment in the pediatric patient: the primal face of pain.
This paper aims to explore the role of facial expression in pediatric pain assessment. A comparison of tools employing facial expression methodology is presented. The concept of the primal face of pain (PFP) is introduced. ⋯ The complexities of pain measurement should preclude the clinical application of untested instruments. For reported tools, a careful evaluation of the psychometric properties and the clinical context must precede application. The concept of the PFP warns against the application of facial pain scales as proxy measures in their intended population. Reliance on facial expression to assess pain in the school-age child is imprecise.