The effect of written document in perioperative information on the anxiety level and family-centered care of parents of children undergoing ambulatory surgery: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

PurposeTo evaluate the effect of preoperative information based on written documents on anxiety levels and the family-centered care of parents of pediatric patients who had ambulatory surgery. Design and methodsIt is a randomized controlled study. Parents were randomly divided into two groups as intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 30). Parents in the intervention group were given written document and verbal information the day before the surgery. A brochure was prepared in accordance with the verbal information describing the perioperative process as a written document. The control group was given only verbal information. Parental State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) and Family Centered Care Assessment Scale (FCCAS) were assessed before and within 1–2 h after surgery, with verbal information based on written documentation. Data were evaluated with Student's t-test for dependent and independent groups and mixed design ANOVA test for time×group interaction. Partial eta square (η2) was calculated for the effect size. ResultsThere was a significant difference between the post-intervention pretest and posttest SAI and FCCAS scores of the parents in the intervention and control groups (p < 0.05). Time group interactions anxiety and family-centered care (p < 0.001) scores had a significant and large effect size. ConclusionVerbal information supported by written documentation before pediatric ambulatory surgery can reduce parental SAI and increase parental FCCAS more than standard care. Practice implicationsProviding written document-based information to parents before surgery may be beneficial in reducing SAI and increasing FCCAS.The trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT05668416).