Which best describes the FLACC scale's basis for judging pain?

Which best describes the FLACC scale's basis for judging pain?

• A. It uses observable behaviors across five categories.
• B. It relies on patient self-report.
• C. It requires laboratory tests.
• D. It uses imaging studies.

Answer: (A)

The FLACC scale bases pain assessment on observable behaviors across five categories: Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability. Each category is scored based on what you can see in the child, giving a total from 0 to 10 that reflects pain intensity. This approach is especially crucial for infants and nonverbal children who can’t reliably report their pain, providing a standardized, repeatable way to track changes after interventions. It does not rely on the child’s self-report, nor does it require laboratory tests or imaging studies.

The FLACC scale bases pain assessment on observable behaviors across five categories: Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability. Each category is scored based on what you can see in the child, giving a total from 0 to 10 that reflects pain intensity. This approach is especially crucial for infants and nonverbal children who can’t reliably report their pain, providing a standardized, repeatable way to track changes after interventions. It does not rely on the child’s self-report, nor does it require laboratory tests or imaging studies.