Attitudes and perceptions of caregivers regarding their presence at induction of anesthesia

Caregiver presence at their children's induction of anesthesia is practiced daily around the world. Research exploring the attitudes and perceptions of caregivers regarding this practice is limited within the African context.

The aim of this study was to describe caregivers' attitudes and perceptions regarding their presence at induction of their children's anesthesia.

This descriptive, phenomenological, qualitative study was conducted in 2020 at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, a 3200-bed facility in South Africa. Twenty caregivers of children (2 to 8 years) undergoing elective surgery were recruited. Data were collected through face-to-face, in-depth, semistructured individual interviews using convenience sampling. Interviews ranged between 11 and 55 minutes in duration and were conducted within 24 hours of induction of anesthesia. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and subjected to inductive reflexive thematic analysis.

Six themes were developed: Fulfillment of caregiver role, A positive experience, A traumatic experience, Not prepared for the experience, My world is my reality, and Your world is a place different to mine.

A caregiver's perception of the induction process is influenced by multiple factors. A finding specific to our cohort is the interplay between complex multifaceted cultural beliefs and anesthesia of their children. By acknowledging and addressing these beliefs, a caregiver's presence can be tailored to ensure a positive experience for all involved at induction.