Reliability and refinement of a pain location tool for children's abdominal surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the 'inter-rater' and test-retest reliability of a pain location tool for children.


METHODS
In children aged 5-14 years who had undergone a laparoscopic operation, pain scores at each of seven abdominal locations, and at the shoulder tip, were recorded at baseline and after a 5- and 30-min interval.


RESULTS
Intraclass correlation coefficients were predominantly in the 'moderate' to 'substantial' range for both 'inter-rater' and test-retest reliability. Three quarters of children would prefer an electronic version of the tool. Thematic analysis showed accuracy, usability, utility and usefulness were areas for future development.


CONCLUSIONS
Children can reliably indicate where they hurt after laparoscopic surgery. An electronic version could increase acceptability to children and usability by professionals.
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Starship Children's Hospital, Park Road, Auckland, New Zealand.
James K
JK
Hamill
University of Otago Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand.
Jonathan
J
Mair
Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit, Starship Children's Hospital, Park Road, Auckland, New Zealand.
Hannah B
HB
Steedman
Acute Pain Team & Department of Anaesthesia, Starship Children's Hospital, Park Road, Auckland, New Zealand.
Andrew
A
Liley
Department of Surgery, South Auckland Clinical Campus, University of Auckland, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
Andrew G
AG
Hill
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards*
child; drawings; pain; pain measurement; reliability