https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2688-6538
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Abstract
Purpose
We performed this systematic review to summarize the psychometric properties of Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability (FLACC) scale in pediatric patients in different settings.
Methods
Two investigators independently searched PubMed, EMBASE, OVID and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for eligible studies through July 2021. We assessed the psychometric properties using the modified critical appraisal tool (CAT). Finally, we systematically reviewed the results of the included studies.
Results
A total of 15 studies were eventually included. The overall quality of each eligible study was low to moderate. The FLACC scale has been available in different versions and in different settings. Although eligible studies have demonstrated significant clinical benefit in assessing postoperative pain in pediatric patients aged 0 to 10 years from post-anesthetic care unit (PACU), pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and inpatient unit, and in assessing procedural pain in pediatric patients aged 0.5 to 7 years from emergency unit, immunization center and PICU, mostly without test-retest analysis.
Conclusion
Although the absence of a gold standard of pain assessment, the currently available data support the usefulness of the FLACC from the perspective of criterion validity. Therefore, the FLACC scale can be considered for measuring observational pain in infants and children. However, further studies are still needed to provide more robust evidence.
Data Sharing Statement
All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article/as supplementary information files.
Disclosure
The authors declare that they have no competing interests for this work.