Research article summary:

Predictors of a childs ability to use a visual analogue scale.

Abstract Extract:
BACKGROUND: Visual analogue scales (VAS) are used to assess the strength of perceptions of both children and adults in many clinical and research settings. Although the VAS has been shown by some authors to be reliable for use by children aged 5 years ... (Full abstract text below)

Published 2003Jul in Journal: Child Care Health Dev (Language : eng)

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1. Child Care Health Dev. 2003 Jul;29(4):281-90

Predictors of a child's ability to use a visual analogue scale.

Shields BJ, Palermo TM, Powers JD, Grewe SD, Smith GA

Center for Injury Research and Policy, Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA. Shieldsb@pediatrics.ohio-state.edu

BACKGROUND: Visual analogue scales (VAS) are used to assess the strength of perceptions of both children and adults in many clinical and research settings. Although the VAS has been shown by some authors to be reliable for use by children aged 5 years and older, others have proposed that young children, generally < or =7 years of age, may not have the conceptual ability to use a VAS. OBJECTIVE: To identify demographic and cognitive variables that would maximize the accuracy of predicting children's abilities to use a VAS. METHODS: Forty kindergarten children performed a seriation task, used a VAS to perform a calibration task and completed the Block Design and Vocabulary subtests of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised (WPPSI-R). An estimated IQ was calculated from the WPPSI-R subtest scores. Socioeconomic status was assessed using the Hollingshead Four Factor Index of Social Status. Logistic regression was used to determine the best predictive models. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value and accuracy were calculated for statistically significant predictive models. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Successful completion of the calibration study by the child. RESULTS: Only 42% of the subjects could use a VAS. The subject's age (> or =5.6 years), combined with estimated IQ (> or =100), was the best predictor of a child's ability to use a VAS (88% accuracy). CONCLUSION: The majority of kindergarten children in our study could not complete a VAS accurately. Cognitive ability, combined with chronological age, was the best predictor of a child's accurate use of a VAS, as determined by logistic regression. Paediatric researchers may need to consider alternative rating scales to measure perceptions in children under 7 years of age.

PMID : 12823333 [PubMed - Indexed for MEDLINE]

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Full Author Information

First Name	LastName	Initials
B J	Shields	BJ
T M	Palermo	TM
J D	Powers	JD
S D	Grewe	SD
G A	Smith	GA

Affiliation: Center for Injury Research and Policy, Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA. Shieldsb@pediatrics.ohio-state.edu

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