Global and specific behavioral measures of pain in children with cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this research was to validate global and behavioral observation methods for measuring pain in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nineteen children diagnosed with CP (2-21 years of age) and their primary caregivers participated in this study. Children and their caregivers were videotaped in their home before, during, and after a stretching exercise, and tests of cognitive and social development were administered. Children who were able to pass a training task were also asked to rate their experience of pain using a numerical rating scale (self-report NRS), but only 5 children (24%) passed so their self-report scores were not included. Healthcare professionals rated videotaped segments for each of the 3 time periods in a randomized order using an observer NRS and the Non-Communicating Children's Pain Checklist-Postoperative Version (NCCPC-PV). Raters trained in the Child Facial Coding System (CFCS) examined the same videotaped segments.

RESULTS

Results showed significantly greater pain behavior (observer NRS, NCCP- PV) during the stretching procedure than during the baseline and recovery segments. There were no significant differences in CFCS scores, across time segments.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support the hypothesis that children with CP express discernible pain behaviors regardless of cognitive or language ability. These results contribute to multidimensional assessment of pain in children with neurologic impairment.