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The Behavioral Approach-Avoidance and Distress Scale: an investigation of reliability and validity during painful
1Emory University School of Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Disease Program, Atlanta, Georgia 30308, USA.
Insights
The Behavioral Approach-Avoidance and Distress Scale (BAADS) effectively measures children's distress during painful medical procedures. Its Distress subscale shows good validity, aiding clinical assessment of pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Medical Sociology
Background:
- Painful medical procedures can cause significant distress in children.
- Accurate measurement of distress and coping styles is crucial for effective intervention.
- The Behavioral Approach-Avoidance and Distress Scale (BAADS) was previously validated in analog settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the Behavioral Approach-Avoidance and Distress Scale (BAADS) for measuring children's distress and coping during actual painful medical procedures.
- To assess the internal consistency and concurrent validity of the BAADS in a real-world clinical setting.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 60 preschool children receiving immunizations.
- Objective behavioral measures (Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress, Child-Adult Medical Procedure Interaction Scale-Revised) were used.
- Subjective reports from children, parents, and nurses were collected.
Main Results:
- The Distress subscale of the BAADS demonstrated good internal consistency and concurrent validity.
- The Approach-Avoidance subscale requires cautious interpretation.
- The BAADS proved to be a cost-effective measure for assessing pediatric patients.
Conclusions:
- The BAADS is a useful and valid tool for measuring distress in children undergoing painful medical procedures.
- The scale's utility in clinical settings for pediatric patients is supported.
- Further research may be needed to refine the interpretation of the Approach-Avoidance subscale.
Abstract:
Validated the use of the Behavioral Approach-Avoidance and Distress Scale (BAADS; Hubert, Jay, Saltoun, & Hayes, 1988), which was reported to be easily completed and scored in an analog situation, for measuring children's distress and coping style during actual painful medical procedures. 60 preschool children who were receiving immunizations at a health department were subjects. Objective measures (Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress and Child-Adult Medical Procedure Interaction Scale-Revised) and subjective measures (child-, parent-, and nurse-report) were used. Results of the current study support the internal consistency and concurrent validity of the Distress subscale of the BAADS; however, some caution is suggested in interpreting the Approach-Avoidance subscale. Discussion focuses on the utility of this scale in clinical settings and the cost-effectiveness of this measure for assessing pediatric patients.