Developmental medicine and child neurology
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The Paediatric Pain Profile (PPP) is a 20-item behaviour rating scale designed to assess pain in children with severe neurological disability. We assessed the validity and reliability of the scale in 140 children (76 females, mean age 9 years 11 months, SD 4 years 7 months; range 1 to 18 years), unable to communicate through speech or augmentative communication. Parents used the PPP to rate retrospectively their child's behaviour when 'at their best' and when in pain. ⋯ PPP score was significantly greater before administration of the analgesic than after (paired-sample t-tests, p<0.001). Though there was no significant difference in mean pre- and postoperative scores, highest PPP score occurred in the first 24 hours after surgery in 14 (47%) children. Results suggest that the PPP is reliable and valid and has potential for use both clinically and in intervention research.