Exploration of variables related to children's behavioral distress during electrodiagnosis

Abstract To investigate variables potentially related to children's distress during electromyography/nerve conduction studies (EMGNCS), mothers of 39 children ages two to 17 years reported the child's gender, experience with EMGNCS, previous negative medical/dental experiences, general response to painful procedures, information-seeking style prior to procedures, health care fears, and information about the mothers' own health care fears and their anxiety regarding EMGNCS. Physicians who performed the studies completed a behavioral distress checklist for each child. Results indicated that children exhibiting more behavioral distress were younger, had been uncooperative with previous painful procedures, were more likely to have had more negative medical/dental experiences, and had mothers who themselves reported greater fear and anxiety about undergoing EMGNCS. Regression analyses indicated that previous negative medical/dental experiences accounted for additional variance in distress beyond that attributed to the child's age. Significant positive correlations between children's distress and specific previous negative medical/dental experiences were found.