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Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes

Table 3 Summary of key evidence to support response scale selection for children 4 to 8 years old

From: Literature review to characterize the empirical basis for response scale selection in pediatric populations

Reference, Evidence Typea, and Gradeb

Article type/ population

Response Option Type

Conclusions

Liu et al. 2007 [5], Direct, C

Cross-Sectional Study; Children aged 4 to 11 years old

Faces scales; Likert-type VRS

In children 4 to 11 years, faces were combined with the Likert-type verbal categories to increase the children’s ability to understand the scale.

Sanchez-Rodriguez et al. 2012 [11], Direct, A

Cross-Sectional Study; Children aged 6 to 8 years old

Faces scales; Graphical scales; NRS; VAS

The Faces scale, NRS, Color scale, VAS cannot be used interchangeably to measure pediatric pain intensity.

Of the four scales used, the NRS-11 produces the highest pain intensity score among children 6 to 8 years old while the VAS produces the lowest.

  1. aDirect evidence: Primary research that compares different response scales within study. Indirect evidence: Review or expert opinion based on empirical evidence
  2. bGrade Key: A) Primary research; compares different response scales within the study; B) Review or expert opinion; based on an empirical evidence base; C) Primary research; evaluates a single response scale type within the study; and D) Review or expert opinion, based on expert consensus, convention, or historical experience
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