A functional analysis of the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale: linearity, discriminability and amplitude

Abstract

Enquadramento: As medidas de autorrelato da intensidade da dor são frequentemente tratadas como de nível de intervalo, um pressuposto raras vezes testado. Objetivos: Investigar o grau em que a Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (FACES) apresenta propriedades de intervalo em amostras de crianças com diferentes idades (6-8; 9-11 anos) e experiências de dor. Metodologia: O estudo assenta na metodologia da Medida Funcional. Esta técnica oferece um critério empírico de validação da linearidade da resposta e a possibilidade de uma medida intervalar dos estímulos. Resultados: A FACES apresenta significativos desvios à linearidade nas crianças mais jovens (6-8 anos), que ocasionam uma menor amplitude de variação da escala. Torna-se tendencialmente mais linear nas amostras de crianças mais velhas (9-11 anos), especialmente no grupo com dor crónica. Conclusão: Em crianças mais novas, as pontuações da FACES não possuem o nível de intervalo. Em crianças com mais de 8 anos e com antecedentes de dor crónica parece razoável atribuir-lhes essa propriedade.

Scaling properties of pain intensity ratings in paediatric populations using the Faces Pain Scale-revised: Secondary analyses of published data based on the item response theory

“…In several studies analyses of other pain measurement tools found evidence for and against an interval scale of measurements (e.g. Oliveira et al, 2014;.…”

The Effects of Hospital Clowning on Physical and Emotional States of Pediatric Patients During Chemotherapy Treatment

“…To evaluate pain, the Wong-Baker Faces Scale (FACES) was administrated (Wong and Baker 1988). Studies have shown strong psychometric qualities (Stinson et al 2006), including in Portugal (Oliveira et al 2014). The scale has six faces representing pain intensity ranging from 0 (smiling face/not hurting) to 5 (crying face/hurts the worst).…”

A multicentre prospective randomized equivalence trial of a soft bandage and immediate discharge versus current treatment with rigid immobilization for torus fractures of the distal radius in children

“…this will take into account differences in the properties of the primary outcome by age, with the score tending to linearity in those around eight years onwards, but behaving non-linearly for those under eight years. 25 furthermore, there is a discontinuity within the secondary outcome instruments, i.e. self-reports for those ≥ eight years old, and proxy-reports for those < eight years old for secondary outcomes.…”

“…the magnitude of pain within the intervals is not uniform), with non-linearity more likely in younger age-groups, tending to linearity in those over eight years old. 25 We therefore have powered the trial for equivalence separately in the two subpopulations (< eight years of age and ≥ eight years age), which is also important for secondary outcomes where some are proxy-reported for participants less than eight years and patient-reported for eight years and above. therefore, the trial is powered separately for equivalence in the two sub-populations (four to seven-year-olds and eight to 15-year-olds).…”