Assessment of postoperation pain in children and adolescents using the adolescent pediatric pain tool

We location, intensity, and quality of pediatric postoperative pain were assessed in a convenience sample of 65 multiethnic children and adolescents, 8 to 17years old. Pain was measured daily for 5 days during hospitalization using the Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool (APPT). Mean pain intensity scores and mean number of pain descriptors (quality) decreased over time, but them was no significant change over time for the number of body segments marked (location). The findings provided valid and reliable estimates of adolescents’ and children’s self-reports of the location, intensity, and quality of postoperative pain.