EMOTION AS THE FIFTH VITAL SIGN IN PEDIATRIC OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT: A CLINICAL AUDIT

Article Sidebar

PDF
Published: 2026-01-26

Main Article Content

Dr Shanza Nazish
Dr Karima Jamil
Dr Anum Zahra
Dr Waqar Anwar
Dr Rehana Kausar
Dr Maimoona Akram
Dr Usman Ahmed
Dr Sobia Jabeen

Abstract

Background: Emotional well-being influences pediatric clinical assessment and cooperation, yet is rarely documented alongside routine vital signs.


Methods: A prospective clinical audit was conducted in children aged 2–5 years attending pediatric OPD. Nursing staff documented emotional state during routine vitals using a standardized observational proforma. Categories included Calm/Cooperative, Happy/Playful, Crying/Irritable, Withdrawn/Silent, and Inconsolable. Primary outcomes were documentation rate and distribution of emotional states.


Results: Of 100 OPD slips reviewed, emotional state was documented in 85%. Calm/Cooperative was noted in 35%, Happy/Playful in 25%, Crying/Irritable in 20%, Withdrawn/Silent in 15%, and Inconsolable in 5%. Documentation required <10 seconds and did not disrupt workflow.


Conclusion: Emotional state can be feasibly recorded as a fifth vital sign in pediatric OPD. Routine incorporation may enhance holistic pediatric assessment and early identification of distressed or developmentally vulnerable children.  

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): The Research of Medical Science Review

Section

Articles
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

EMOTION AS THE FIFTH VITAL SIGN IN PEDIATRIC OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT: A CLINICAL AUDIT. (2026). The Research of Medical Science Review, 4(1), 428-429. https://medicalsciencereview.com/index.php/Journal/article/view/3052