An Examination of the Relation Between Child Distress and Mother and Nurse Verbal Responses During Pediatric Oncology Procedures

Abstract

Although prior studies have examined maternal criticism and praise during pediatric procedures, there is little research examining pediatric nurses. This study examined whether mothers and nurses demonstrated co-occurrence of criticism and praise and whether these statements were associated with child distress. One hundred forty-one children seen for chemotherapy procedures were videotaped, and adult statements were coded. Maternal and nurses' statements were significantly correlated, indicating temporal co-occurrence. Criticism by mothers and nurses was found to be associated with child distress. High-socioeconomic-status (SES) mothers showed higher correlations with nurses' statements than low-SES mothers. Implications include improved service delivery for interventions.