Aim

To evaluate child-nurse emotional communication during needle procedures using a child-centered intervention versus a control group.

Methods

A controlled, video-observational study, incorporating 66 children and seven nurses was conducted. Data were collected using video-recordings of child-nurse communication during needle procedures when receiving standard care (control group) or standard care plus the i Can Choose intervention (intervention group).

Findings

Children expressed their unpleasant emotions mostly non-verbally. Compared to children in the intervention group, those in the control group more often expressed vague or unspecified words to describe an emotion (χ2(1) = 14.4, p < 0.001). The nurses' focus and overall communication style varied between the groups. When using i Can Choose, nurses provided more space to children's communication preferences. This seemed to increase children's involvement during the needle procedure.

Conclusion

Communicating with the child, the so-called communicative interaction, instead of to the child, can play a critical role in children's handling of fear and pain related to needle procedures.