Comparative Analysis: Implementation of a Pre-operative Educational Intervention to Decrease Anxiety Among Parents of...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nursing
• Surgical Care
• Patient Education

Background:

• Parental anxiety is a significant concern for children undergoing cardiac surgery.
• Lack of information about pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stays can exacerbate parental stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a nursing educational intervention in reducing anxiety among parents of children undergoing their first heart surgery.
• To assess the impact of pre-operative education on parental stress levels.

Main Methods:

• A randomized comparative study design was employed.
• Parents were allocated to either a control group or an experimental group receiving educational intervention about PICU stay.
• Anxiety levels were measured using standardized scales.

Main Results:

• The experimental group, which received the educational intervention, reported lower average anxiety scores (63.0 [SD=3.5]) compared to the control group (70.4 [SD=2.8]).
• The findings suggest a positive correlation between pre-surgery education and reduced parental anxiety.

Conclusions:

• Adequate information regarding planned therapeutic procedures is crucial for decreasing parental anxiety and stress before pediatric surgery.
• Pre-surgery parent education may enhance knowledge and satisfaction, thereby decreasing anxiety associated with their child's cardiac surgery.