Rev. Soc. Bras. Enferm. Ped.2016;16(2):68-74.

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Pain assessment in hospitalized children

DOI: 10.31508/1676-3793201600009

Abstract

Objectives:

to evaluate the pain of hospitalized children and to verify the association between gender, age and medical diagnose of children and the choice of the Pain Quality Cards.

Method:

cross-sectional study, with 48 children, between six and 12 years of age, admitted to the pediatric unit of a public hospital. Data analysis was the Biserial Correlation Coefficient, Fisher’s Exact Test and the Chi-square Method.

Results:

the choicest Cards for children were: Painful (56.3%), Nauseated (66.7%); and Strong (52.1%). The association between age and the choice of cards revealed differences between younger and older children, while among the gender there was no difference between boys and girls; and some medical diagnoses were not related to any Card.

Conclusion:

the association between age, gender and child’s medical diagnoses has an impact on clinical practice of health professionals must take into account these variables, aiming at quality caring for children in pain.