Brief report: Optimizing children's memory and management of an invasive medical procedure: the influence of procedural narration and distraction.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of two interventions on children's memory of and distress during a voiding cysto-urethrogram (VCUG, X-ray of the kidneys).


METHODS
Sixty-two children (aged 2.5-7.5 years) were allocated to one of three conditions. In one (CI + D), they received complete procedural information during the VCUG, with a cartoon video. In a second (PI + D), children received limited procedural information, with a cartoon video. In a third (standard care, PI), they received limited procedural information. VCUGs were videotaped and distress was coded using the CAMPIS-R. To assess memory, children were interviewed 1 week later.


RESULTS
Relative to the PI condition, children in the CI + D condition recalled more information, appraised the VCUG as less painful, and were less distressed. There were no differences between the PI + D and PI conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
An inexpensive, theoretically driven intervention can enhance children's memory and reduce distress during an invasive procedure.
Salmon
Karen
K
School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia. k.salmon@unsw.edu.au
McGuigan
Fiona
F
Pereira
John Kieran
JK
D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003558:Cystoscopy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D033262:Narration