Parental behavior and child distress and pain during pediatric medical procedures: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: In this study review, the relationship between observed parental behavior and the observed symptoms of distress in pediatric patients, as well as the subjective experiences of pain in pediatric patients undergoing painful medical procedures, was analyzed. Method: A systematic search of articles using PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane, and DARE was performed. The risk of bias and the level of evidence were assessed. Meta-analyses were performed for the selected variables. Results: Twenty-nine relevant publications were selected. The results of the analyses showed that apology, giving control to the child, empathy, and criticism were most strongly associated with children's distress and pain during painful medical procedures in the group of patients aged 2 to 18 years. In the case of patients below the age of 2, insensitive behaviors were positively related to the level of distress. Conclusions: The lack of tender, physical closeness with the parent increases distress in children under 2 years of age during painful medical procedures, and adults drawing their attention to the threatening aspects of a medical situation produces this effect in older children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).