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 any personal factors influence the reduction of anxiety. BACKGROUND: Attending a surgical theatre generates anxiety, 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 levels of anxiety, potential intervention to reduce their levels has 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 a public hospital were randomly assigned to the control group CG (34 individuals) or one of the 3 experimental groups EG (91). In this Randomised Controlled Study, children and parents of the experimental groups were provided with a story book, a video with additional information of nursing, or both. Prior to the surgical intervention, the State Anxiety, S-A, and Trait Anxiety, T-A, of the parents and children were measured using the STAI and STAIC questionnaires respectively. Data collection was carried out for 12 months starting in October 2016. RESULTS: Parents' S-A in the control group was higher than in the experimental groups. A linear model explains the parents’ S-A using as regressors: children S-A, age and T-A of the parents, and children age. CONCLUSIONS: Providing information about the surgical process (through stories or videos) to which a child is going to be subjected can reduce the anxiety of the parents. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Given their close connection to the patient and the potential effects on the children of their psychological situation, healthcare professionals should consider paying greater attention to communicating with the parents.