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Parents of day surgery patients received inadequate information, leading to prolonged pre-operative fasting and delayed discharges for most children. This study highlights critical gaps in pediatric surgical care communication and patient management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Patient Experience
- Healthcare Communication
Background:
- Day surgery offers benefits but requires effective pre- and post-operative management.
- Parental understanding is crucial for pediatric patient care and outcomes.
- Inadequate information can lead to patient distress and logistical challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the information provided to parents of children undergoing day surgery.
- To assess pre-operative fasting durations and actual discharge times.
- To identify areas for improvement in the day surgery patient pathway.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 10 children admitted for day surgery.
- Interviews or surveys with parents regarding information received.
- Analysis of pre-operative fasting protocols and discharge records.
Main Results:
- Parents reported receiving minimal information prior to admission.
- Information provided upon admission did not adequately compensate for pre-admission gaps.
- Most children experienced excessively long pre-operative fasts.
- Only 30% of children were discharged on the intended day of surgery.
Conclusions:
- Current day surgery protocols inadequately inform parents, impacting patient care.
- Prolonged fasting and delayed discharges suggest systemic issues in managing pediatric day surgery.
- Improvements in pre-admission communication and streamlined care pathways are essential.
Abstract:
An in-depth study of the experience of 10 children admitted for day surgery revealed that parents received little information before the admission and that this was not compensated for by the information given on admission. Most of the children underwent excessively long pre-operative fasts and only three out of the 10 children were actually discharged on the day of their operation.