Reducing parent distress and increasing parent coping-promoting behavior during children's medical procedure

The study investigated whether involving parents in their child's cognitive -behavioral intervention would effectively reduce parent distress during th eir child's medical procedure. Parents participating with their 3- to 7-yea r-old children prior to a voiding cystourethrogram were randomly assigned t o an intervention (N = 20) or a standard care (N = 20) condition. The inter vention included provision of information, coping skills training, and pare nt coaching. Parents participating in the intervention had a significant re duction in anxiety following the intervention relative to parents in standa rd care. Trained parents displayed fewer distress-promoting and more coping -promoting behaviors during the procedure, even though parents in both cond itions reported similar levels of anxiety during the procedure. Involving p arents in children's interventions is crucial to reduce parent distress and prepare parents to assist their child during the medical procedure.