Journal
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAIN
Volume 13, Issue 2, Pages 202-208Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2008.03.016
Keywords
Cortisol; Cry; Glucose; Immunization; Infant; Pain; Stress
Categories
Funding
- County of Ostergotland, Sweden
- Swedish Society of Nursing
- the Sven Jerring Foundation
- South Sweden Society of Nursing
- The Swedish Lions Club
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The aims of the present study were to investigate (1) whether the salivary cortisol response could be dampened during a routine three-month immunization if the infant received sweet-tasting solution in combination with a pacifier and (2) stress experienced by parents during immunization of the infant. Ninety-eight infants were included into one of four intervention groups: 'glucose and pacifier', 'water and pacifier', 'glucose', or 'water'. Saliva was collected before and 30 min after the immunization. Infants' crying-time and parents' self-reported stress (VAS) were measured before and after immunization, Infants in the 'pacifier and glucose' group had a significantly smaller change in salivary cortisol than infants in the other groups (F-3.72 = 3.1, p < 0.05). In the 'glucose and pacifier' group the median salivary cortisol levels decreased 33% after the immunization. In the 'water and pacifier', 'glucose', and 'water' group median cortisol increased with 50%, 42%, and 8%, respectively. No significant differences in crying-time were observed between the intervention groups. If the infant cried before the immunization, the crying-time during the immunization was longer (p < 0.01) and cortisol increased more (p < 0.05). Median cortisol levels for parents decreased after the immunization (p < 0.01). Median VAS increased 50% (p < 0.0001) after immunization. First time parents rated higher stress on VAS before immunization (p < 0.01). Parents' change in cortisol and VAS were significantly related to infants' crying time. In conclusion, the combination of oral glucose and pacifier dampen infants' salivary cortisol in response to the three-month immunization. (C) 2008 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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