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The Psychosocial Experiences and Needs of Children Undergoing Surgery and Their Parents: A Systematic Review

Mark G Gabriel, Claire E Wakefield, Janine Vetsch

    Journal of Pediatric Health Care : Official Publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners
    |October 26, 2017
    PubMed

    Insights

    Pediatric surgery impacts children and parents psychologically. Children experience anxiety and behavioral changes, while parents face distress, highlighting unmet information needs for improved surgical care.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric surgery
    • Psychosocial outcomes
    • Healthcare experiences

    Background:

    • Pediatric surgery presents significant challenges for both children and their parents.
    • Understanding the psychosocial impact is crucial for optimizing care.
    • Previous research has not comprehensively synthesized these experiences.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To summarize the psychosocial experiences and needs of pediatric patients undergoing surgery.
    • To identify common psychological and behavioral challenges faced by children and parents.
    • To inform interventions aimed at improving the surgical journey for pediatric patients and families.

    Main Methods:

    • Systematic literature search using the Ovid engine across three databases.
    • Screening of 877 abstracts to identify relevant studies.
    • Data extraction from 11 eligible studies involving 1,307 children and their parents.

    Main Results:

    • Children reported adverse psychological and behavioral changes (e.g., anxiety, eating disturbances) perioperatively.
    • Parents commonly experienced psychological distress related to their child's surgery.
    • Children's primary needs centered on medical care, while parents emphasized information needs.

    Conclusions:

    • Children's negative surgical experiences can adversely affect medical outcomes.
    • Parental psychosocial well-being is closely linked to children's surgical experiences.
    • Patients and families with prior hospitalizations/surgeries require tailored support, especially those with chronic illnesses.
    Abstract

    Keywords:
    Childrenexperiencesneedsparentspsychosocialsurgery

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