Date of Graduation
1982
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of filmed modeling and distraction techniques in the modification of children's behavior during blood work procedures. Subjects were 48 children between the ages of six and eleven who were referred for this procedure by the Cardiology, Neurology, and Hematology Clinics. While reasons for referral varied, some common reasons included possible heart murmur, possible seizure activity and abnormal blood counts. Prior to their laboratory work, children in the Modeling group viewed a videotape that depicted two children experiencing the blood work procedures. The children's behavior and verbal remarks were characteristic of coping models who overcame their initial fear and completed the procedure in a nonanxious manner. Children in the Distraction group watched a Walt Disney Cartoon while sitting through the laboratory procedure. Children in the Control group viewed a cartoon unrelated to the medical setting before undergoing their blood work procedures. The dependent measures used to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment conditions included a direct observation technique, children's self-report and ratings by laboratory technicians. The direct observation measure was completed as the children were undergoing the blood work procedure, while technicians completed ratings at the termination of each child's blood test. Children responded to the self-report measure on two occasions: immediately preceding the viewing of all videotapes and immediately following the termination of the laboratory procedure. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that neither the distraction nor the modeling interventions were more effective than the control film. In addition neither modeling nor distraction proved to be more effective than the other. It was noted that the results were quite different from previous research which has demonstrated that these techniques have been effective in alleviating fearful reactions to medical and dental experiences. Differences between the current investigation and previous studies including the clinical samples, the responses observed, and the time of measurement are offered to help explain these conflicting results. Further research is proposed to answer the variety of questions raised by this study.
Recommended Citation
Zabin, Miriam A., "The Modification Of Children'S Behavior During Blood Work Procedures." (1982). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 10091.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/10091