A systematic review of technology-based preoperative preparation interventions for child and parent anxiety

The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effect of technology-based preoperative preparation interventions on children's and parents' anxiety.

PsycINFO, Cochrane, Science Direct, Taylor and Francis, and Pubmed MEDLINE databases were searched. Studies were restricted to those reporting on technology-based preoperative preparation interventions for pediatric patients (0-18 yr old) receiving elective surgery under general anesthesia.

Thirty-eight studies that provided level II or level III evidence were included (33 randomized-controlled trials and five non-randomized-controlled studies). Of the 38 studies, preoperative anxiety (measured by various indices of anxiety) was significantly reduced in children and parents in 25 and 11 studies, respectively. For children, tablet and handheld devices with interactive components were the most encouraging strategies. Video preparation alone may provide sufficient information to manage preoperative anxiety in parents.

The available literature is extremely heterogeneous and limits the ability to make definitive conclusions about the efficacy of technology-based preoperative preparation interventions. The available literature suggests that, for children, tablet and handheld devices with interactive capacity may represent a viable option to address preoperative anxiety. The findings are more mixed for parents, with video preparation a possible option. Execution of well-designed, methodologically sound studies is required to facilitate a better understanding of the efficacy of technology-based preoperative preparation.