title: Pediatric pain assessment: trends and research directions.
abstract: A number of methodologies to assess pain in children are available. These are analyzed from both a clinical and a research standpoint. Research related to factors influencing the response to pain, including age, developmental stage, gender, culture, prior experience, anxiety level, the painful stimulus, and the role of significant others, are reviewed. A range of pain assessment instruments are presented with consideration given to the indications for use, issues of reliability and validity, and practical concerns. The need for further research is defined, particularly in regard to children of ethnically diverse populations.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors