Assessing pediatric perioperative affect: A concise review of research and clinically relevant scales

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Pediatric Psychology
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Perioperative anxiety and distress are prevalent in pediatric patients under general anesthesia.
• These emotional states elevate the risk of both immediate and long-term postoperative complications.
• Effective measurement tools are crucial for managing pediatric patient well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and evaluate key research and clinically-relevant scales for measuring pediatric perioperative affect.
• To highlight the strengths and weaknesses of existing anxiety assessment tools.
• To identify promising scales for clinical use and areas for future research.

Main Methods:

• A literature review was conducted, identifying 11 relevant articles.
• Inclusion criteria focused on patients ≤18 years, perioperative anxiety/distress, and studies with reliability/validity data.
• The review analyzed the applicability and limitations of various assessment scales.

Main Results:

• Robust research scales (e.g., Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale) are often too complex for busy clinicians.
• Clinically-based scales are simpler but require further validation for standard use.
• The HRAD± scale (Happy, Relaxed, Anxious, Distressed) shows potential as an efficient observational tool assessing anxiety and cooperation.

Conclusions:

• Existing research-based anxiety scales may be impractical for routine clinical anesthesia settings.
• Simpler, clinically-oriented scales need further testing and validation.
• Further research is necessary to refine clinical anxiety assessment tools and evaluate interventions for reducing pediatric perioperative distress.