Children, Voiding Cystourethrograms, and Family Perceptions

• “The VCUG procedure may create distress in a child and the accompanying family members. A study by Zelikovsky indicated that the procedure is painful, invasive, and frightening for children and distressful for family members.”

• “A VCUG test can lead to patient and family related to perceived pain, fear, and distress before, during, and after the procedure. Families that regard themselves with greater anxiety were more likely to perceive their child with more fear, distress, and pain. The most significant relationship was between high experienced anxiety and the family’s perceptions of fear and pain in their children.”

• “The study showed that most parents do not find the VCUG procedure as distressing as they had anticipated and the families’ anxiety at the time of the procedure greatly influenced their perceptions of pain, fear, and distress perceived in their child. The discovery that most of the families would consent to a repeat VCUG and would likely be present substantiates the findings of this study.”

NOTE: Like other studies, the child’s perception of distress/pain during VCUG was not even considered prior to “concluding” these results of pain during VCUG. Again, the true patient experience is disregarded.