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Preparing children for day surgery
1Saint Anselm College.
Insights
A preoperative teaching program significantly reduced emotional distress in children undergoing day surgery. Providing procedural and sensory information before surgery benefits young patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Child Psychology
- Healthcare Education
Background:
- Day surgery is increasingly common for pediatric patients.
- Children often experience significant emotional distress before surgical procedures.
- Effective preoperative preparation is crucial for managing pediatric anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a group preoperative teaching program on children's emotional distress.
- To assess the effectiveness of providing procedural and sensory information to pediatric patients before day surgery.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 30 children (ages 3-10) scheduled for elective day surgery was studied.
- One group received a structured preoperative teaching program with procedural and sensory information.
- A control group did not receive the preoperative intervention; differences were analyzed using a t test.
Main Results:
- Children who participated in the preoperative teaching program exhibited significantly lower levels of emotional distress.
- The intervention group showed a marked reduction in anxiety compared to the control group.
- Statistical analysis (t test) confirmed a significant difference between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Group preoperative teaching programs providing procedural and sensory information are effective in reducing children's emotional distress.
- This educational approach positively impacts pediatric patients' experience with day surgery.
- Findings support the integration of structured preoperative education into pediatric surgical care pathways.
Abstract:
This study measured the effect of a group preoperative teaching program on the level of children's emotional distress during day surgery. The sample consisted of 30 children, ages 3 through 10, scheduled for elective surgery. One group attended a structured program and received procedural and sensory information within 2 weeks of their surgery. The other group did not receive this intervention. A t test identified significant differences between the groups. Children who attended the preoperative teaching program demonstrated less emotional distress than children who did not receive this intervention. These findings reinforce the positive outcomes of preoperative teaching programs that provide procedural and sensory information to children as preparation for day surgery.