Abstract
Purpose: to investigate the utility of salivary cortisol as an objective measure of stress in sick infants. Participants: One hundred and forty four infants nursed in two neonatal intensive care units in two children’s hospitals in Australia. Design: A prospective observational cohort study. Methods: Infants’ saliva was collected using a 3 mL syringe attached to a shortened size 8 FG feeding tube. Salivary cortisol levels were measured using ELISA and examined for associations with potential environmental stressors in the NICU. Main outcome measures: 1. collection of saliva in sufficient volumes for analysis, 2. relationship between salivary cortisol levels and environmental factors associated with stress.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Neonatal Nursing : JNN |
| Publication status | Published - 2005 |
Keywords
- excretion
- hydrocortisone
- infants
- neonatal intensive care
- pediatric nursing
- stress (psychology)