All 4 faces pain scales were found to be adequately supported by psychometric data .
When given a choice between faces scales , children preferred the WBFPRS .
Confounding of pain intensity with affect caused by use of smiling and crying anchor faces is a disadvantage of the WBFPRS .
: For clinical use , we found no grounds to switch from 1 faces scale to another when 1 of the scales is in use .
CONTEXT : Numerous faces scales have been developed for the measurement of  pain intensity in children .
It remains unclear whether any one of the faces scales is better for a particular purpose with regard to validity , reliability , feasibility , and preference .
OBJECTIVES : To summarize and systematic ally review faces pain scales most commonly used to obtain self-report of pain intensity in children for evaluation of reliability and validity and to compare the scales for preference and utility .
Observational pain assessment versus self-report in paediatric triage
Objective : To examine if observational pain assessment can be used for purpose s of triage in children aged > 3 years . Methods : A prospect i ve , single blind , controlled trial was undertaken in children who presented to the emergency department ( ED ) with pain .  Pain was assessed in the waiting room and again at triage before any treatment was administered using the Alder Hey Triage Pain Score ( AHTPS ) , an observational tool design ed for triage , and a self-report tool , either the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale ( WBS ) for 3–7-year-old children or a visual analogue scale ( VAS ) for 8–15-year-old children . Scores were compared by instrument ( observational and self-report ) and ED location ( waiting room and triage room ) . Results : 75 children ( 29 aged 3–7 years and 46 aged 8–15 years ) were enrolled in the study . The AHTPS scores were significantly lower than the scores measured by the WBS/VAS ( p<0.001 ) . The level of pain measured by both methods ( self-report , observational ) was lower in the triage room . Compared with the AHTPS , the WBS and VAS scored significantly lower in the triage room than in the waiting room ( p<0.042 and p<0.006 , respectively ) . Conclusions : Observational pain assessment underestimates children ’s perception of pain and should not be recommended in children aged > 3 years . Triage has a calming effect on children
All 4 faces pain scales were found to be adequately supported by psychometric data .
When given a choice between faces scales , children preferred the WBFPRS .
Confounding of pain intensity with affect caused by use of smiling and crying anchor faces is a disadvantage of the WBFPRS .
: For clinical use , we found no grounds to switch from 1 faces scale to another when 1 of the scales is in use .
CONTEXT : Numerous faces scales have been developed for the measurement of  pain intensity in children .
It remains unclear whether any one of the faces scales is better for a particular purpose with regard to validity , reliability , feasibility , and preference .
OBJECTIVES : To summarize and systematic ally review faces pain scales most commonly used to obtain self-report of pain intensity in children for evaluation of reliability and validity and to compare the scales for preference and utility .