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Psychological effects of day case surgery compared with inpatient surgery
I R Campbell1, J M Scaife, J M Johnstone
1Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Insights
Day case surgery for children significantly reduces short-term psychological disturbance compared to traditional inpatient stays. This approach leads to fewer post-discharge issues and lasting effects from hospitalization, supporting its use for pediatric minor surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Child Psychology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Minor surgical procedures in children can cause short-term psychological distress.
- Hospitalization duration is a potential factor influencing pediatric psychological outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the psychological disturbance in children undergoing day case surgery versus traditional inpatient surgery.
- To evaluate the impact of surgical admission type on children's psychological well-being post-operation.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 70 children undergoing minor surgery.
- Parental questionnaires were used to assess short-term psychological disturbance.
- Comparison between two groups: day case surgery and inpatient surgery.
Main Results:
- Children undergoing day case surgery exhibited significantly less psychological disturbance.
- Fewer children in the day case group required extra attention post-discharge.
- Long-term effects of hospital stay were less pronounced in the day case surgery group at three months.
Conclusions:
- Day case surgery is associated with reduced psychological upset in children.
- Minimizing hospital stay through day case procedures offers psychological benefits for pediatric patients.
- Evidence supports day case surgery as a preferred model for minor pediatric operations due to psychological advantages.
Abstract:
Short term psychological disturbance in 70 children undergoing minor surgery was compared in two randomly allocated groups by means of questionnaires answered by their parents. Significantly less psychological disturbance was reported in children undergoing day case surgery compared with children admitted on the day before and discharged on the day after surgery. Children who had day case surgery were less often reported to require extra attention in the first week after discharge home, and at three months after operation these children were less often said to be still affected by their hospital stay. It is concluded that a reduced psychological upset can now be added to the other arguments in favour of day case surgery in children.