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Parental presence during pediatric anesthesia induction

Susan M Scully1

  • 1The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

AORN Journal
|June 30, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Parental presence during anesthesia induction is less effective at reducing child anxiety than other methods. This review of six studies suggests alternative strategies may be more beneficial for pediatric surgical patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Child Psychology
  • Surgical Care

Background:

  • Pre-anesthetic anxiety is common in children undergoing surgery.
  • Effective anxiety reduction strategies are crucial for pediatric patient well-being.
  • Parental presence is a commonly considered intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize evidence on the efficacy of parental presence during anesthesia induction.
  • To compare parental presence with other anxiety-reducing interventions.
  • To identify the most effective methods for mitigating pre-anesthetic anxiety in children.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of six research studies.
  • Comparison of interventions including midazolam premedication, behavioral distraction, and parental presence.
  • Analysis of anxiety levels in pediatric patients during anesthesia induction.

Main Results:

  • Parental presence alone demonstrated the least effectiveness in reducing pediatric anxiety during anesthesia induction.
  • Midazolam and behavioral distraction were found to be more effective than parental presence.
  • The reviewed studies collectively suggest a hierarchy of intervention effectiveness.

Conclusions:

  • Parental presence is not the most effective strategy for reducing pre-anesthetic anxiety in children.
  • Healthcare providers should consider alternative methods like midazolam or behavioral distraction for better anxiety management.
  • Further research may explore combined strategies for optimal pediatric anxiety control during anesthesia.

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