Expressive Behaviors Demonstrating "Well Done" in Young Children Undergoing Blood Sampling or Vaccination as...

The present study aimed to clarify expressive behaviors demonstrating "well done" in young children aged 3-7 years who were undergoing blood sampling or vaccination, as these behaviors were perceived by parents and nurses in Japan. This study applied a qualitative descriptive design using a retrospective recall approach. Data obtained from semi-structured interviews conducted with 14 parents and 15 nurses were divided into meaning units, each containing a complete expressive behavior demonstrating "well done." These meaning units were then coded and categorized. A total of 103 secondary codes were extracted and grouped into 36 subcategories and the following six categories: emotional expression, exploratory behavior, moving on from blood sampling or vaccination, self-regulating behavior, expression of intentions to adults, and response to questioning by adults. The most common emotions displayed before needle removal in the category emotional expression were those related to "displeasure," while those displayed after needle removal were related to "pleasure." The present findings suggest that parents and nurses perceived the change from displeasure- to pleasure-related emotions after needle removal in young children as "well done." Observation of the expressive behaviors identified in the present study will enable the clinical evaluation of "well done" in young children undergoing blood sampling or vaccination, thereby aiding nurses in providing positive feedback to young children and their parents.