PHYSICIAN AND PARENT BEHAVIOR DURING INVASIVE PEDIATRIC CANCER PROCEDURES - RELATIONSHIPS TO CHILDREN BEHAVIORAL DISTRESS

Observed 51 children with cancer, their parents, and their physicians during routine bone marrow aspirations and lumbar punctures. Child dis tress was measured via the Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress (OSBD); adult behaviors were coded via the Child Adult Medical Procedu re Interaction Scale (CAMPIS). In general, physicians were less verbal ly interactive than parents both before and during the procedure. As e xpected, several parent behaviors were positively related to child dis tress. However, physician behaviors were uniformly negatively related to child distress. Findings are discussed in terms of the physician-pa tient relationship and the possible role of physicians as change agent s in reducing child distress during invasive procedures.