Effect of tablet computer game on reduction of pediatric perioperative anxiety

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive entertainment via a tablet computer (TC) to manage children's perioperative anxiety. Methods The study was limited to children who accepted circumcision with local anesthesia nerve block. 204 patients were divided into intervention group, those who played TC in the waiting room and the operating room, and control group, those who didn't play TC according to the random number table method. Preoperative anxiety was measured by Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) on the day before surgery and in the waiting room. Anxiety during surgery was measured by the change in blood pressure and heart rate, and the degree of non-cooperation. Results In the waiting room, the increase in mYPAS score in control group was (8.4±1.3) points, which was significantly higher than that in intervention group (2.5 ± 1.1) points (t=4.25, P<0.01). During surgery, the percentage of non-cooperative children in control group was (49.0±5.1)%, which was significantly higher than that in intervention group (28.3 ± 4.4)% (χ2=9.22, P<0.01). The regression analysis showed that other things being equal, the use of TC significantly reduced preoperative anxiety (P< 0.01). Conclusions TC is an effective method to reduce children's perioperative anxiety. Key words: Child; Anxiety; Tablet computer; Operation