Preoperative Intervention for the Reduction of Anxiety in Pediatric Surgery Patients

Abstract

Hospitalization and surgery can have adverse psychological effects on children that may be prevented by preoperative intervention procedures. The present study compared an in vivo preparation in which 3- to 9-year-old patients who were about to undergo tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy surgery experienced a preview of the procedures and equipment, a slide show condition depicting hospitalization and surgery, or a standard nursing care control group. The in vivo group was rated as significantly less anxious than the slide show and control groups at each of the three assessment points. The in vivo children also took less time to drink following surgery than the slide show and control groups.

Effects of education of paediatric patients undergoing elective surgical procedures on their anxiety – a systematic review

“…) and the Anxiety Scale of the Personality Inventory for children (Demarest et al . ). Self‐assessment tools (Lynch , Hatava et al .…”

“…), the Hospital Fears Rating Scale (Demarest et al . , Pinto & Hollandsworth ), the Vernon Behavioural Questionnaire (Visintainer & Wolfer , Margolis et al . ), the Global Mood Score (Margolis et al .…”

“…), preview and play with hospital equipment (Johnson & Stockdale , Demarest et al . ), formal preparation by a child life specialist (Kain et al . , Brewer et al .…”

Therapeutic play intervention on children's perioperative anxiety, negative emotional manifestation and postoperative pain: a randomized controlled trial

“…One possible explanation for the non-significant finding of children's state anxiety may be that the participating hospital did not allow participants to tour the operating room nor touch equipment in the operating room; as such, photos and a manual were used instead, which might have contributed to the non-significant results in this study. Previous researchers (Demarest et al 1984) suggested that children's surgeryrelated anxiety is triggered by the 'strangeness' or novelty of the places, objects and procedures in surgery. Recent literature also mentioned that the lack of familiarity with the operating room environment and lack of control over upcoming medical procedures were major stressors to children (Li & Lam 2003).…”

Risk Factors for and Impact of Online Sexual Solicitation of Youth

“…Alerting younger children about online sexual solicitations and helping them to roleplay responses may reduce some of the potential for distress. [11][12][13] At the same time, the admonitions and prohibitions that may be appropriate and effective with younger children may not work with older adolescents. It may be useful to have more prevention efforts for older teens come from peers and other sources credible with that group.…”