Parental heart rate variability during pediatric consultation

Details

Ressource 1Download: BIB_171C3803EE74.P001.pdf (234.45 [Ko])
State: Public
Version: After imprimatur
Serval ID
serval:BIB_171C3803EE74
Type
A Master's thesis.
Publication sub-type
Master (thesis) (master)
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Parental heart rate variability during pediatric consultation
Author(s)
Wipplinger F.
Director(s)
Wildhaber J.
Institution details
Université de Lausanne, Faculté de biologie et médecine
Publication state
Accepted
Issued date
2012
Language
english
Number of pages
23
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Research regarding communication between pediatricians and parents in pediatric consultation has mainly focused on parental satisfaction, on its influence on compliance and on communication techniques used by pediatricians. However, there is paucity in research regarding parental stress levels during pediatric consultation. Therefore, the aim of our study was to measure parental heart rate variability related as a measure of stress levels during pediatric consultation.
METHODS: Video recordings with simultaneous monitoring and recording of parental heart rate were obtained from 38 pediatric consultations in the ambulatory or hospital setting of the department of pediatrics (HFR, Fribourg, Switzerland). Pulse variation was measured every 5 seconds and heart rate variability (increase or decrease were analyzed) in relation to various sections of the consultation.
RESULTS: Heart rate significantly decreased at the end of the consultation compared to the beginning of the consultation (p= 0.0567). In addition, heart rate significantly decreased at the beginning of clinical examination (p= 0.0476) compared to psychosocial history taking. During the discussion of laboratory findings and diagnosis, heart rate was significantly elevated compared to the discussion of the prognosis (p=0.0505).
CONCLUSION: We conclude that pediatric consultation has a significant impact on parental stress levels shown by parental heart variability. In general, it can be shown that stress levels significantly decrease at the end of the consultation compared to the beginning of the consultation. In addition, stress levels decrease at the beginning of clinical examination and increase during psychosocial history taking and discussion of laboratory findings and diagnosis. Therefore, our findings highlight the importance of a thorough consultation which include a comprehensive clinical examination with special care taken regarding psychosocial issues and information given regarding the diagnosis.
Keywords
Pediatric consultation, heart variability, parental satisfaction, parental stress, doctor-patient communication
Create date
12/09/2013 14:05
Last modification date
20/08/2019 12:46
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