title: Analysis of an intervention to reduce parental anxiety prior to voiding cystourethrogram.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is a common imaging test in pediatric urology that can be associated with anxiety in the child and parent. We hypothesized that education by mailed brochure would decrease pre-procedure parental anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Families of children scheduled for VCUG were randomized into an experimental group that was mailed an educational brochure about the VCUG and a control group. Immediately prior to the procedure, parental anxiety was assessed with the self-administered State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The parent repeated the STAI at home after the VCUG and answered brief questions about educational resources used to prepare for the VUCG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled 105 families (47 experimental, 58 control). Parental state anxiety was higher before the procedure than after the procedure (p < 0.001). Younger parents had greater pre-procedure state anxiety (p = 0.007). Contrary to our expectations, pre-procedure state anxiety did not differ between control and experimental groups. However, parents in the experimental group demonstrated less anxiety with some individual items in the questionnaire.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An educational brochure mailed to families prior to VCUG did not decrease pre-procedure parental state anxiety. However, the educational brochure can ensure accurate dissemination of information to help families prepare for this potentially distressing procedure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Urology, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lachenmyer
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Douglass B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Brock
authors.forename: Stacy T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010174:Pamphlets; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010372:Pediatrics; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012307:Risk Factors; D014567:Urography / Q000523:psychology*; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Anxiety; Cystourethrography; Patient education handout; Pediatrics; Urography