Preparation Of Children For Surgery Research Articles

A Qualitative Study Exploring Singaporean Parents' Perceptions on PreParing their Child for Surgery

PurposeTo explore the perceptions of parents regarding the preparation of their children for surgery. Design and methodsA qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Sixteen parents of children who were undergoing various types of elective surgery in a public tertiary hospital in Singapore were recruited. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. ResultsFive themes were derived: (1) assumed roles of the parents; (2) communication, decision-making, and emotional challenges; (3) factors facilitating the preparation of children for surgery; (4) surgery-related and financial concerns; and (5) the desire for more information and better management. While preparing their children for surgery, parents undertook several roles to ensure readiness and to provide support. Parents faced challenges while communicating with their children regarding their surgeries, experiencing negative emotions and dilemmas in making decisions for surgery. Factors such as previous experiences, children's positive mentality, and access to information helped to facilitate their preparation. Parents expressed surgery-related concerns such as anesthesia and a successful outcome of the surgery, the timing of the surgery, and postoperative care. Parents expressed a desire for easier to understand information through the use of visual materials, and improvements in current practices and management. ConclusionThis study provides a greater understanding of parents' perceptions of their roles, challenges, influencing factors, concerns, and needs when preparing their children for surgery. Practice implicationsThe study findings provide insightful aspects for improving current healthcare practices and informing future research studies in exploring better surgery preparation programs for both parents and children.

Impact of multimodal preoperative preparation program on parental anxiety

Background: Hospitalization and surgery are stressful experiences for children and their parents. Therefore, preoperative preparation of parents becomes essential. Objective: The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of multimodal preoperative preparation program (MPPP) on parental anxiety, to find the association of parental anxiety with the selected demographic variables of parents, and to measure the satisfaction of parents regarding the preparation of children for surgery. Materials and Methods: A quasiexperimental study was conducted in a selected multispecialty hospital. Using the purposive sampling technique, a total of 110 parents of children in the age group 8–12 years were assigned to control (n = 55) and intervention (n = 55) groups, respectively. The MPPP was administered to intervention group. The parents in the control group received the routine preoperative care. Parental anxiety was assessed on admission before shifting the child to operation theater 6 h, 12 h, and 48 h after surgery whereas the parental satisfaction was measured at 48 h after surgery. Results: The mean scores of parental anxiety were significantly lower in the intervention group than that of control group (P

Psychological Preparation of Children for Surgery: Awareness Survey Targeting Medical Professionals

The objective of this study was to conduct a nation-wide survey to investigate the state of: 1) the prevalence of psychological preparation of children undergoing surgery; and 2) the awareness of psychological preparation of children by medical professionals (physicians and nurses). We also aimed to identify the issues that need to be addressed next. A total of 178 physicians and 291 nurses working in hospitals where children undergo surgeries participated in this study. Anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey. Physicians and nurses in Japan are aware of the need to provide age-appropriate psychological preparation for children undergoing medical procedures. In current practice, however, our study revealed that surgical orientations are given solely to parents in the absence of the child in approximately 30% of cases. While approximately 60% of respondents felt that the uses of “children’s picture books and booklets” are good methods for delivering explanations to children, only about 20% of respondents were implementing psychological preparation specific to each age group, and half of the respondents were providing verbal explanations alone. Meanwhile, 77% responded that it is “time-consuming” and 48% said, “on the contrary, it may heighten their anxiety”. Also 34.3% said that they “do not know how to explain to a child” and 54.8% of these medical professionals worked in mixed wards. We observed a gap between ideal requirements and current practices. We found that it is essential to: 1) organize training sessions for knowledge acquisition; 2) consciously strive to be informed of the actual post-surgery conditions and outcomes of the children; and 3) acquire physical and financial support.

The effectiveness of a storybook in lessening anxiety in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in northern ireland

Aim: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a storybook, entitled, The Tale of Woody’s Tonsils, written by Anne Marie Tunney, on reducing the level of anxiety of children aged 5–11 years who were undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in one hospital in Northern Ireland. Background/Literature Review: Psychological preparation of children for surgery impacts coping. There is evidence, in both adult and pediatric studies, that effective psychological preparation for a surgical procedure has an impact on the individuals’ coping ability with reduced levels of anxiety leading to better post-operative outcome, faster recovery and a reduction in long term sequelae associated with admission to hospital. A storybook, as a method of preparation, has been recommended by a number of researchers but the effectiveness of this in reducing anxiety has not yet been investigated in the UK. Previous studies have mainly used only one research instrument for anxiety measurement and child self-report is not a commonly used feature of such research. Design and Methodology: A quasi-experimental study involving 80 children was conducted using a repeated measures design. Children attending a pre-assessment clinic were randomly allocated to either an experimental group (received the storybook) or a control group (did not get the storybook). Anxiety was tested both pre- and post-intervention using a self-report Hospital Fears Rating Scale and Child Drawing: Hospital, a projective technique based on children’s drawings. Findings: The storybook was found to be effective in reducing pre-operative anxiety and was found to be particularly effective for females and in the 7-year-old age group. Practice Implications; This study demonstrates the storybook’s effectiveness for alleviating anxiety and advocates the use of child focused anxiety measurement tools. It reinforces the need for pre assessment to include exploration of anxiety triggers so that preoperative preparation and nursing care can be individualized for each child.

Prepare children for surgery one stage at a time

Prepare children for surgery one stage at a time

Psychoeducational preparation of children for surgery: The importance of parental involvement

Objective: To examine the effects of therapeutic play intervention on outcomes of children undergoing day surgery, and to highlight the importance of parental involvement in the psychoeducational preparation of children for surgery. Methods: A randomized controlled trial, two group pre-test and repeated post-test, between subjects design was employed. Hong Kong Chinese children (7–12 years of age; n = 203) admitted for elective surgery in a day surgery unit, along with their parents during a 13-month period, were invited to participate in the study. By using a simple complete randomization method, 97 of children with their parents were assigned to the experimental group receiving therapeutic play intervention, and 106 children with their parents were assigned to the control group receiving routine information preparation. Results: The results showed that both children and their parents in the experimental group reported lower state anxiety scores in pre- and postoperative periods. Children in the experimental group exhibited fewer instances of negative emotional behaviors and parents in the experimental group reported greater satisfaction. The results, however, find no differences in children’s post-operative pain between the two groups. Conclusion: The study provides empirical evidence to support the effectiveness of using therapeutic play intervention and the importance of parental involvement in the psychoeducational preparation of children for surgery. Practice implications: The findings heighten the awareness of the importance of integrating therapeutic play and parental involvement as essential components of holistic and quality nursing care to prepare children for surgery. # 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Psychoeducational preparation of children for surgery: The importance of parental involvement

Objective To examine the effects of therapeutic play intervention on outcomes of children undergoing day surgery, and to highlight the importance of parental involvement in the psychoeducational preparation of children for surgery. Methods A randomized controlled trial, two group pre-test and repeated post-test, between subjects design was employed. Hong Kong Chinese children (7–12 years of age; n = 203) admitted for elective surgery in a day surgery unit, along with their parents during a 13-month period, were invited to participate in the study. By using a simple complete randomization method, 97 of children with their parents were assigned to the experimental group receiving therapeutic play intervention, and 106 children with their parents were assigned to the control group receiving routine information preparation. Results The results showed that both children and their parents in the experimental group reported lower state anxiety scores in pre- and post-operative periods. Children in the experimental group exhibited fewer instances of negative emotional behaviors and parents in the experimental group reported greater satisfaction. The results, however, find no differences in children's post-operative pain between the two groups. Conclusion The study provides empirical evidence to support the effectiveness of using therapeutic play intervention and the importance of parental involvement in the psychoeducational preparation of children for surgery. Practice implications The findings heighten the awareness of the importance of integrating therapeutic play and parental involvement as essential components of holistic and quality nursing care to prepare children for surgery.

Preparing children for surgery

Preparing children for surgery

Preparing Children for Surgery—an Integrative Research Review

The purpose of this integrative research review was to determine the methodological and substantive characteristics of the research pertaining to preparation of children for surgery, examine pertinent research issues, and suggest recommendations for future research and practice. A total of 400 articles were reviewed using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Twenty-two studies, published between 1974 and 1995, met the criteria and, therefore, constituted the study corpus. The total sample comprised 1,263 subjects. Findings indicate that further research is needed to examine the efficacy of preparation strategies, address diverse populations, and include patient and parent involvement in the preparation process.

Preparation of children for surgery and invasive procedures: Milestones on the way to success

The cost of a preparation program is relatively low, but its value for the subject undergoing treatment is very high. Feelings of satisfaction and contentment usually accompany the preparation process, and are mutual. Therefore, it is highly recommended to make the necessary efforts to develop preparation programs and to implement them regularly and systematically. It is probable that a preparation program that allows for the special characteristics of each child and family, that is accompanied by diverse demonstration aids, and that stresses a love for children and counseling, as well as cooperation between all the agents involved ... should in most cases be a successful one.

Preparing children and families psychologically for day surgery: an evaluation

The increasing use of ambulatory care settings for children's surgery places more responsibility on parents for psychological preparation of children for surgery and for their post-operative care. This paper describes the evaluation of a pre-admission programme to prepare children between the ages of 3 and 15 years and their families psychologically for day surgery. Seventy-five families comprised the study sample, 23 in the programme group and 53 in the non-intervention group. The programme focused on familiarizing families with the physical and procedural components of day surgery through a videotape of a family in a naturally occurring day surgery situation, a tour, and hospital play. Fewer children and parents in the programme group reported high anxiety levels awaiting surgery. Children and parents with previous surgical experience reported higher levels of pre-surgical anxiety than inexperienced families. Families reported the physicians and day surgery nurse as their primary sources of information and rated the day surgery nurse highest in their satisfaction with information received. Implications for practice, particularly for meeting the needs of young children and out-of-town families, are discussed.

A comparison of three methods of preparing children for surgery

Research on the preparation of children for surgery is beginning to focus on practical issues of implementation. The purpose of the present study was to determine if a videotape of a preoperative class would be as effective as the class itself in preparing children for surgery, and to see how both would compare with brief individual preparation by a nurse. Each of sixty 3-to 12-year-old children scheduled for minor ear, nose, or throat surgery received one of these three types of preparation. Children who attended the preoperative class displayed fewer negative behavioral reactions during the preoperative injection and trip to surgery than those who saw the videotape. There were suggestions of differences that did not reach statistical significance between the nurse's explanation group and the other two groups. Children in the nurse's explanation group appeared to display fewer negative reactions than those in the videotape group, but more than those in the preoperative class group. The personal contact and opportunities for active participation provided by the preoperative class, and to a lesser extent by the nurse's explanation, are variables that require more intensive investigation.