ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Little is known whether children experience pain during hospital stay from the child's own perspective or not. The existing studies tend to be based on a small number of children and therefore have limitations concerning the generalisability of the results. AIM: The aim of this study was to describe children's self-reported pain and experience concerning pain management during hospital stay. METHODS: This study has a quantitative cross-sectional design with descriptive statistics as data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 786 questionnaires, Pain in Children in Hospital, were distributed in four countries with the response rate of 75% which was almost equal between countries. Our result showed that 87% (503/579) children at hospital self-reported pain during the past 24 h. Nearly 63% of the children reported a pain score of > 5 the last 24 h. Most of children reported that they had received a question about pain from the hospital staff, and that the staff observed and assessed their pain. Totally 95% reported that they were satisfied with their pain relief during the last 24 h. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that when children were given the possibility to self-report pain, nearly 2/3 expressed that they had experienced pain during hospital stay. However, most of them reported satisfaction with pain management and their pain relief.
Subject(s)
Pain Management , Pain Measurement , Adolescent , Child , Child, Hospitalized , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Europe , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Infant , Male , Pain/diagnosis , Self Report , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
AIM: This study compared transferrin receptor (TfR) concentrations with iron parameters relative to a child's intake of cow's milk and follow-on formula. METHODS: TfR, beta-haemoglobin, serum ferritin and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of red blood cells were analysed in a study population of 263 children aged 2.5 y. The amounts of cow's milk and follow-on formula consumed were recorded. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in concentrations of TfR/log ferritin between children whose milk intake was < 500 ml and those with a milk intake > or = 500 ml (p = 0.003). There were significantly higher values of TfR/log ferritin in children whose MCV of red blood cells was < or = 75 fl than in those with > 75 fl (p < 0.0001). The TfR concentrations were significantly lower after iron therapy than before treatment. CONCLUSION: Higher concentrations of TfR were correlated with lower concentrations of haemoglobin and MCV of red blood cells. Milk consumption increases the risk of a higher ratio of TfR/log ferritin. TfR concentrations were significantly lower after iron therapy.
Subject(s)
Ferritins/blood , Iron Deficiencies , Milk , Receptors, Transferrin/blood , Animals , Cattle , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Iron/blood , Male , Nutritional Status , SwedenABSTRACT
AIM: The objective of the study was to investigate iron status in children in relation to intake of cow's milk and follow-on formula. METHODS: In all, 367 healthy 2.5-y-old children were enrolled in the study. The amounts of cow's milk and formula consumed were recorded. B-haemoglobin, S-ferritin, S-iron, total iron binding capacity and mean corpuscular volume were analysed. RESULTS: Seven percent of the children had iron deficiency anaemia (Hb <110g/l) and 10% had S-ferritin < 12 microg/l. Furthermore, 10% of the children were iron deficient, with or without anaemia. Children with iron deficiency had a higher intake of cow's milk (382 ml, 95% confidence interval (CI) 294-496, vs. 257 ml, CI 232-272, p < 0.0001), and fewer consumed follow-on formula (11% vs. 43%, p= 0.0002) compared to those with sufficient iron. CONCLUSION: Iron deficiency is still common during childhood in Sweden. Intake of cow's milk is significantly higher in children with iron deficiency. In contrast, iron deficiency is less frequent among those consuming follow-on
