Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Clinical Workflow and Patient IntakeEasy
A medical assistant needs to assess pain in a 4-year-old patient who has difficulty describing pain intensity verbally. Which pain assessment tool is most appropriate?
- ANumeric rating scale (0-10)
- BVisual analog scale with a ruler
- CWong-Baker FACES pain scale
- DMcGill Pain Questionnaire
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Wong-Baker FACES pain scale
The Wong-Baker FACES scale uses facial expressions rather than numbers or complex descriptions, making it ideal for young children who cannot reliably use numeric or verbal pain scales.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrect; numeric scales require abstract reasoning young children often lack.
- B. Incorrect; visual analog scales require abstract line-based estimation.
- D. Incorrect; this tool uses complex verbal descriptors unsuitable for young children.
Wong-Baker FACES Scale
A pediatric pain assessment tool using a series of facial expressions ranging from happy to crying, allowing children to indicate pain level without needing numeric literacy.
- Used for children ages 3 and older
- Faces range from smiling (no pain) to crying (worst pain)
- Alternative to numeric scales for nonverbal or young patients
Memory trick: Faces speak when words can't