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Parents measuring pulses; an observational study.
J White1, S Shepperd, P Yudkin
1Department of Primary Care, University of Oxford, Institute of Health Sciences, Old Road, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 24, 2004
Summary
Parents can accurately measure school-aged children's pulse rates after training, but struggle with preschoolers. This finding highlights the potential and limitations of parent-reported pulse data in pediatric care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Clinical Measurement
- Patient Education
Background:
- Parent-reported vital signs can offer insights into a child's health status.
- Accurate pulse rate measurement is crucial for assessing pediatric clinical conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the agreement between parent-measured pulse rates and pulse oximeter readings in children.
- To assess the effectiveness of a brief educational intervention on parental pulse measurement accuracy.
Main Methods:
- A study involving parents and children was conducted.
- Parents received a brief educational intervention on measuring pulse rates.
- Agreement between parent measurements and pulse oximeter readings was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Parents demonstrated the ability to accurately measure the pulse rates of school-aged children post-intervention.
- Parents experienced difficulties in accurately measuring the pulse rates of preschool-aged children.
Conclusions:
- Educational interventions can empower parents to accurately measure pulse rates in school-aged children.
- Parental measurement of pulse rates in preschool children remains a challenge, requiring further investigation or alternative methods.