Empathic versus directive preparation of children for needles

A review of the literature on preparation of children for medical procedures revealed that: (1) preparation is widely recommended but there is little empirical evidence documenting its effectiveness, (2) the relative efficiency of different preparations generally has not been determined, and (3) preparation for procedures that are routine for medical personnel but painful and stressful for children (e.g., fingers sticks) has not received much attention. The present study compared the reactions of a group of children that received empathic, supportive preparation for needles (including statements such as, "It is going to hurt a little," and "I don't mind if you cry.") with a group that was told to be big, brave, and not cry. The group that was instructed not to cry actually cried more, and had more other negative reactions, than did the empathically prepared group. Thus, style of preparation even for routine medical procedures can affect children's behavior and medical personnel might benefit from instruction in effective preparation techniques.