Effects of parental soothing behavior on stress levels of 2-8 year old children during voiding cystourethrograms by phase of procedure

“Using the example of a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), a painful radiological procedure, this study investigated whether parental soothing behavior… in one phase of the procedure influenced the child’s distress in the following phase.”

“Parental reassurance during the anticipatory phase significantly increased the child’s distress of the following phase, while parental “sh, sh” significantly reduced it. Both parental behaviors showed no significant effect on the child’s distress of the following phase when applied during the procedure itself. Results underline the importance of differentiating between anticipatory and procedural phases of the VCUG.”