Reducing Preoperative Anxiety in Parents of Surgical Patients

Aims and objectives: To investigate preoperative anxiety in parents of paediatric surgical patients, testing whether the provision of information (using video and story books) regarding the surgical process can impact on reducing anxiety. Analyse if some personal factors influence the reduction of anxiety. Background: Attending a surgical theatre generates anxiety in all types of patients, especially in the case of children. The effect of different preoperative intervention procedures in children that attempt to reduce their anxiety level have been studied a great deal. However, although their parents also suffer high anxiety levels, potential intervention to reduce their levels have not received the same attention. Study design: Randomised Clinical trial Methods: One hundred and twenty-five parents of children (8-12 y.o.) undergoing surgery in Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias hospital (Oviedo, Spain) were randomly assigned to the control group (34 individuals) or one of the 3 experimental groups (91). After the pre-anaesthesia consultation, children and parents of the experimental groups were provided with a story book, a video with additional information of nursing, or both. In the antechamber of the operating room and prior to the surgical intervention, the State Anxiety and Trait Anxiety of the parents and children were measured using the STAI and STAIC questionnaires respectively. The data collection, including different demographic variables was carried out for 12 months starting in October 2016

A randomised and blind clinical trial. The parents could be randomly assigned to the control group, and received the standard procedure, or to the experimental groups. Three experimental groups were possible regarding the various types of interventions: story book (IG1), video (IG2), or both instruments (IG3)

As it is not possible for the participants to be blinded, they were asked not to mention to the assessment researchers (or other parents they could meet) what was the information they received, ensuring the researchers to remain blinded.

Presurgery use of Story book. The parents with the child read a book with information about surgery techniques the days before surgery.

Presurgery use of video. The parents with the child watch a video with information about surgery techniques the days before surgery.

Presurgery use of video and story book. The parents with the child watch a video and read a book (both) with information about surgery techniques the days before surgery.

Inclusion Criteria: Undergoing surgery at Asturias Central Hospital Exclusion Criteria: Children not in the age range, Emergency surgery, Children not able to understand or read Parents not present or refused to participate.