Which statement accurately differentiates informing from preparing a child for a procedure?

• A. Informing provides factual details; preparing includes practice, rehearsals, and coping rehearsal to build readiness.
• B. They are exactly the same.
• C. Preparing involves only parental consent.
• D. Informing means giving a full medical history.

Answer: (A)

Informing vs preparing a child for a procedure focuses on two distinct roles in helping the child experience care with less fear. Informing is about sharing factual, age-appropriate details of what will happen, why it’s needed, who will be there, and what sensations they might feel. Preparing goes further by building the child’s readiness through practice and coping strategies—rehearsals, role-play, and coping rehearsal to help them feel more in control during the actual procedure.

The best answer captures this difference: informing provides factual details, while preparing includes practice and coping strategies to build readiness. For example, you might tell a child what equipment will be used and what sensations to expect, and then you’d use modeling, breathing exercises, and a brief walk-through of the room to practice how they’ll react and cope.

The other options misstate the relationship. They’re not the same, and preparation isn’t limited to parental consent, nor does informing equate to giving a full medical history.