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Publishing Use

You have indicated that you are interested in using the Wong-Baker FACES® Pain Rating Scale (FACES Scale) in your publication. Please read the following information and submit the form below. We will then contact you to discuss whether a licensing agreement will be necessary for your project. After permission is given or a licensing agreement is established, we will give you access to digital formats of our scale.

Please help us maintain the integrity of the Wong-Baker FACES® Pain Rating Scale by following these simple guidelines:

  • The FACES Scale is a self-assessment tool for physical pain only. We do not give permission for use in measuring emotions, moods, comfort, etc.
  • The patient needs to be able to understand the instructions and select a face that illustrates the pain he/she is experiencing. It should never be used with unresponsive patients or to compare the patient’s face to the scale to determine the level of pain.
  • No modifications should be made to this scale without our expressed permission. We are intentional about not adding color to our scale, because color is so subjective. If you see a scale with color added, that is a copyright infringement.
  • Bibliography Citation: Wong-Baker FACES Foundation (2022). Wong-Baker FACES® Pain Rating Scale. Retrieved [Date] with permission from http://www.WongBakerFACES.org. Originally published in Whaley & Wong’s Nursing Care of Infants and Children. © Elsevier Inc.

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