Validation and properties of the verbal numeric scale in children with acute pain

Although the verbal numeric scale (VNS) is used frequently at patients’ bedsides, it has never been formally validated in children with acute pain. In order to validate this scale, a prospective cohort study was performed in children between 8 and 17 years presenting to a pediatric emergency department (ED) with acute pain. Pain was graded using the VNS, the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the verbal rating scale (VRS). A second assessment was done before discharge. We determined a priori that in order to be valid, the VNS would need to: correlate with the VAS (concurrent validity); decrease after intervention to reduce pain (construct validity); and be associated with the VRS categories (content validity). The VNS interchangeability with the VAS, its minimal clinically significant difference, and test–retest reliability were also determined. A total of 202 patients (mean age: 12.2 ± 2.6 years) were enrolled. The VNS correlated with the VAS: r_ic = 0.93, p < 0.001. There were differences in the VNS before versus after interventions (p < 0.001), and between VRS categories (mild versus moderate, p < 0.001; moderate versus severe, p < 0.001). The 95% limits of agreement (interchangeability) between VNS/VAS were outside the a priori set limit of ±2.0: −1.8, 2.5. The VNS minimal clinically significant difference was 1. The VNS had good test–retest reliability with 95% limits of agreement of −0.9 and 1.2. In conclusion, the VNS provides a valid and reliable scale to evaluate acute pain in children aged 8–17 years but is not interchangeable with the VAS.