Children with motor disability and loss of independence who require multidisciplinary care are followed in paediatric rehabilitation centres. They undergo many care activities which can be painful. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, clinical relevance and the validity of a methodological paradigm for the continuous assessment of care-related pain.

Two paediatric rehabilitation centres participated in the study. Each week, 1–3 children were randomly selected from each centre. The level of pain or discomfort produced by each care activity was rated using the FLACC-r scale and a visual analogue scale rated by the carer (VAScarer) and the patient (VASpatient) for 5 days and 1 night.

Thirty-two children aged from 1–15 years (med=7 years) were included in the study. 1302 care activities were evaluated. A total of 3.6% were rated as painful and 11% as uncomfortable. The most frequently painful activities were mouth care, transfers, standing and dressing. The most frequently uncomfortable activities were passive limb mobilisation and dressing. There was an excellent correlation between the FLACC-r and VAScarer scores (r=0.888; P<0.05) and a moderate correlation between the FLACC-r and VASpatient scores (r=0.564; P<0.05).

The methodology proposed in this study can be used in any type of institution for children with motor disability wishing to evaluate and reduce the frequency of care-related pain.