USE OF VIDEO EYEGLASSES TO DECREASE ANXIETY AMONG CHILDREN UNDERGOINGGENITAL EXAMINATIONS

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare three techniques in their abilit y to decrease anxiety induced by the pelvic examination among children of different races. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-nine subjects between 3 and 8 years old of white, African-American, and Hispanic race or ethnicity were randomly assigned to one of three distraction techniques that wa s used during the genital examination: passive play (being read to), a ctive play (singing, blowing bubbles), or viewing a movie through vide o eyeglasses. Levels of vocalized distress, as well as distress expres sed by physical behavior and emotional support requested, were directl y observed and recorded. Children also reported their level of satisfa ction at the end of the examination. Multivariate analysis of covarian ce was used to evaluate the independent effects of each technique and race while we controlled for confounding variables. RESULTS: Levels of physical distress were lowest among children who used video glasses a nd highest among those randomly assigned to passive play (p = 0.02). C hildren randomized to video glasses also expressed higher levels of sa tisfaction than those randomized to active (p = 0.001) or passive (p = 0.05) play. No differences associated with race or ethnicity were det ected. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that video glasses are more effective than active or passive play in reducing anxiety and improvi ng satisfaction levels among children undergoing a genital examination .