Cognitive behavioral and behavioral interventions help young children copeduring a voiding cystourethrogram

Objective: To reduce young children's distress and increase coping behavior among children undergoing a voiding cystourethrogram (VCU). Methods: Three- to seven-year-old children were stratified based on prior V CU experience and randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 20) or a standa rd care (n = 20) condition. The intervention included provision of informat ion, coping skills training, and parent coaching. We hypothesized that the intervention would reduce children's distress as assessed by child report, parent and technician ratings, and behavioral observations. Results: Children in the intervention displayed fewer distress behaviors an d greater coping behaviors and were rated as more cooperative than children receiving standard care. Children's fear and pain ratings did not differ s ignificantly between groups. Conclusions: A cognitive-behavioral treatment package effectively reduced c hildren's distress, increased coping, and increased cooperation during void ing cystourethrogram procedures. This type of an intervention should be int egrated into routine pediatric radiological procedures.