Table 3.

Patient-reported descriptions of pain (ages 6–11 years)

Descriptions of pain	Patient quotes
Mild pain experience Pain level 0–2	“[For prior experience of a little pain] a 2 or a 4 … I didn’t have to go to the hospital.” [age 7] “[2 felt like] My leg was hurtin’ like right here but it wasn’t hurtin’ that bad.” [age 10] “[Mild pain is] like, it don’t hurt that much and I can still move around.” [age 10] “[Mild pain is like] someone pushed me into a wall.” [age 11] “[Prior experience of a little pain (2) was] like I have fallen onto a rock.” [age 11]
Moderate pain experience Pain level 4–6	“[Prior experience of pain (4)] wasn’t really, like, pleasant.” [age 9] “[Prior experience of a little pain (4)] wasn’t that bad. I could still do things and I could get up and do some stuff instead of just laying around all day.” [age 9] “[Moderate pain is] when I need to take medicine and it’s hurtin’ a little bit.” [age 10] “[Moderate pain is like] When someone kicks me real hard.” [age 11]
Severe pain experience Pain level 8–10	“[Last experience of pain was like] I couldn’t crawl. I couldn’t crawl or walk and I wasn’t feeling good. My legs were hurting six. Stomach hurting six. Back hurting really large [pointed to 10].” [age 6] “It’s like somebody’s in my stomach kicking me and hitting me.” [age 7] “[Last experience of pain (10)] I was feeling bad and it felt … and I didn’t want anybody to touch me and … and it … and, uh, I … I … I couldn’t move my arms ‘cause they were swole’” [age 7] “[Regarding last experience of pain (10)] I don’t really wanna talk about it … [Face 10] wants his Mommy.” [age 7] “[Prior experience of pain 10 was] A pain crisis … I was screaming.” [age 8] “[Worst experience of pain (10) was like] It was hurting a lot and it didn’t feel right in my body because of how much it hurted.” [age 9] “[Severe pain is] when I have to go to the hospital.” [age 10] “[Severe pain is like] I drop to the floor really hard.” [age 11] “[Worst experience of pain (10)was like] I was getting stabbed in the back” [age 11]