[Parental presence is a useful method for smooth induction of anesthesia in children: a postoperative questionnaire...

Parental presence during induction of anesthesia (PPIA) is widely practiced to prevent preoperative anxiety in children. However, some previous studies described parental presence is less effective than sedative premedication. The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether PPIA is not an effective prevention of preoperative anxiety using a postoperative questionnaire survey to parents.

PPIA was performed for 72 children (aged 1-15 years old) during one year. No patients received sedative premedication before surgery. We evaluated degree of anxiety before induction of anesthesia with four-point scale, 1: exciting and crying before entering surgical room, 2: exiting and crying on a surgical bed, 3: agitated, crying, not exciting, 4: calm. After surgery, we executed a questionnaire survey to parents concerning degree of anxiety and satisfaction.

Ninty percent of parents accepted PPIA and all parents wanted PPIA next time if their children undergo surgery again. Younger age and frequency of surgery were associated with anxiety during induction in children (P<0.05). On the other hands, children above ten years of age did not want PPIA so much.

PPIA has beneficial effects against preoperative anxiety in both children and parents.