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Degree

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), University of Toledo Health Science Campus, School of Nursing, 2004.

Abstract

This study sought to establish the utility of heart rate variability measurement as a tool to assess pain in low birth weight premature infants. It used a repeated measures design with secondary analysis and paired samples. Subjects were a subset of 10 infants who were less than 28 weeks gestational age. Heart rate increased significantly following a heel stick and remained unchanged following an axillary temperature measurement. There was a significant increase in heart rate during what is thought to be pain that did not occur following a presumably non-painful stimulus. Heart rate was shown to be a sensitive indicator of pain in this sample of infants. No support was found for the use of heart rate variability as a pain measure in this age group and post-conception age range.

Subject Headings

Health Sciences, Nursing

Keywords

pain; low birth weight; pre-term infants; infants pain; premature infants; fast fourier transform

Advisor

Jane Evans

Pages

68p.

Document number: mco1092411459
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=mco1092411459

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