Dr. L. ‘t Hoen and Dr. S. Schilling discuss non-pharmaceutical preventative measures for preventing anxiety in children undergoing urological procedures

The conversation highlights the critical role of communication - not only with children but also with their families - as a foundation for trust and reassurance. The speakers explain how giving children a sense of control, even in small choices, helps reduce anxiety and increase cooperation. They present a range of effective tools, including bubble play, search-and-find books, stress toys and virtual reality headsets, each adapted to the child’s developmental stage.

Particular attention is given to cognitive distraction techniques that actively engage a child’s attention, leaving less mental space for fear. The episode also addresses what can be done during emergencies or at night when child life specialists are unavailable - emphasising that even small, simple gestures by clinical staff can have a big impact.

Finally, the discussion turns to newborns, often overlooked in anxiety prevention. The speakers explain how skin-to-skin contact, pacifiers, breastfeeding, and glucose water can all contribute to a calmer, less stressful experience, even in the earliest stages of life.

This episode offers highly practical insights for anyone involved in paediatric urological care - underscoring that anxiety prevention can often be achieved with empathy, creativity and the right non-pharmaceutical tools.

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