Coping Strategies in Children with Cancer Undergoing Bone Marrow Aspirations

row aspirations. A number of studies have focused on the distress which children with leukemia experience when undergoing these painful procedures.’,’ These studies, along with many clinical articles, indicate that bone marrow aspirations are one of the most painful and traumatic of all the procedures. Various studies have shown age to be a predictor of anxiety and distress. Younger children display greater behavioral anxiety,’ and exhibit their distress in more intense, overt and motoric modes.’ Preschool and school-age children tend to display their fears overtly, while the fears of adolescents are displayed by muscle tension, sweating of the palms and nausea.3 _