Background: The effect of reassurance in managing distress among children who receive procedures of a less aversive nature has not been fully investigated.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between reassurance by dental staff and distress behavior of preschool children receiving preventive procedures in a community setting.
Methods: Nurse-child interactions (n = 270) during fluoride varnish application were video recorded and coded. Multilevel logistic regression modeled the probability of the occurrence of child distress behavior as a function of reassurance provision, controlling for child-level and nurse-level variables.
Results: Child distress behavior was positively related to nurse verbal reassurance but negatively linked to the time that this reassurance occurred. Both child initial anxiety and nurse nonprocedural training increased the probability of observable distress behavior.
Conclusions: The use of verbal reassurance to promote reception of mild invasive procedures was counterindicated, especially when offered early in the intervention ( ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT00881790).