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Web-based tailored intervention for preparation of parents and children for outpatient surgery (WebTIPS): formative
Michelle A Fortier1, Elizabeth Bunzli, Jessica Walthall
1From the *Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, California; †UCI Center on Stress & Health, Irvine, California; ‡Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; §School of Nursing Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California; ∥Child Life Department, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, California; ¶Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
Insights
A new Web-based Tailored Intervention for Preparation of parents and children undergoing Surgery (WebTIPS) effectively reduced preoperative anxiety in children and parents. This digital tool was found to be helpful and easy to use, improving the surgical experience.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Health Psychology
- Digital Health Interventions
Background:
- Preoperative anxiety is a significant concern for children and parents undergoing surgery.
- Existing interventions may not fully address the needs of pediatric surgical patients and their families.
- A novel Web-based Tailored Intervention for Preparation of parents and children undergoing Surgery (WebTIPS) was developed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a formative evaluation of the WebTIPS intervention.
- To test the preliminary efficacy of WebTIPS in reducing preoperative anxiety.
- To assess parental perceptions of the WebTIPS usability and helpfulness.
Main Methods:
- Phase 1: Formative evaluation with 13 children (2-7 years) and parents using focus groups.
- Phase 2: Randomized controlled trial with 82 children (2-7 years) comparing WebTIPS to standard care.
- Primary outcome: Child and parent preoperative anxiety levels.
Main Results:
- Parents found WebTIPS helpful and easy to use (P < 0.001).
- Children in the WebTIPS group showed significantly lower anxiety entering the operating room (P = 0.02) and during anesthesia mask introduction (P = 0.01).
- Parents in the WebTIPS group reported less preoperative anxiety (P = 0.004).
Conclusions:
- WebTIPS is well-received by both children and parents.
- The intervention successfully reduced preoperative anxiety in pediatric surgical patients.
- WebTIPS demonstrates potential as an effective digital tool for surgical preparation.
Background:
The purpose of this 2-phase project was to conduct a formative evaluation and to test the preliminary efficacy of a newly developed Web-based Tailored Intervention for Preparation of parents and children undergoing Surgery (WebTIPS).
Methods:
Phase 1 enrolled 13 children 2 to 7 years of age undergoing outpatient elective surgery and their parents for formative evaluation of WebTIPS. Parent participation focus groups are common in qualitative research and are a method of asking research participants about their perceptions and attitudes regarding a product or concept. In phase 2, children 2 to 7 years of age in 2 medical centers were assigned randomly to receive the WebTIPS program (n = 38) compared with children receiving the standard of care (n = 44). The primary outcome of phase II was child and parent preoperative anxiety.
Results:
In phase 2, parents reported WebTIPS to be both helpful (P < 0.001) and easy to use (P < 0.001). In phase 2, children in the WebTIPS group (36.2 ± 14.1) were less anxious than children in the standard of care group (46.0 ± 19.0) at entrance to the operating room (P = 0.02; Cohen d = 0.59) and introduction of the anesthesia mask (43.5 ± 21.7 vs 57.0 ± 21.2, respectively, P = 0.01; Cohen d = 0.63). Parents in the WebTIPS group (32.1 ± 7.4) also experienced less anxiety compared with parents in the control group (36.8 ± 7.1) in the preoperative holding area (P = 0.004; Cohen d = 0.65).
Conclusions:
WebTIPS was well received by parents and children and led to reductions in preoperative anxiety.
