[The impact of psychological preparation for pediatric surgery on postoperative recovery]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Psychology
• Surgical Recovery
• Child Health

Background:

• Pre-operative fear negatively impacts pediatric surgical recovery, manifesting as increased nurse calls and sedative use.
• Understanding the behavioral and emotional effects of surgical fear is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of pre-surgical psychological preparation on post-operative recovery in pediatric patients.
• To assess how different preparation methods influence children's recovery indicators during their hospital stay.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 60 pediatric patients (ages 7-14) undergoing minor surgery.
• Four groups were compared: filmed modeling, coping skills training, combined approach, and a control group.
• Post-operative recovery was measured by nurse calls, sedative intake, fluid intake, voiding, and sleep quality.

Main Results:

• Children receiving psychological preparation exhibited reduced fear, fewer nurse calls, and improved sleep post-surgery.
• Sedative administration was significantly lower in prepared groups compared to the control.
• Coping skills training, particularly when combined with other methods, demonstrated the most significant positive effects on recovery.

Conclusions:

• Pre-surgical psychological preparation is an effective strategy for enhancing pediatric surgical recovery.
• Coping skills training is a key component for maximizing the benefits of psychological preparation in pediatric surgical patients.
• Targeted interventions can mitigate the negative effects of surgical fear, leading to better post-operative outcomes.