[The anxiety of children before elective surgery: descriptive study]

Thirty-six children aged 7-14 years, scheduled for an elective surgery, were administered a questionnaire-interview in order to identify and measure fear and anxiety experienced before and after the surgery. The same questionnaire was administered also to the mothers. Fear and anxiety of the surgery itself and of pain are the main psychological reactions related to the surgery. The interview to the mother and the child represents an interesting study model that allows to identify problems too often underlooked-undertreated by the health care personnel. Problems related to a poor pre-operative psychological education of the children and their parents are discussed.