Parental visitation in the post-anesthesia care unit: a means to lessen anxiety.
Programs that assist parents and children with coping during hospitalization may minimize the emotional trauma of hospitalization and improve both child and family well-being. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of parental visitation in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) on pre- and postoperative anxiety levels of pediatric patients and parents. Sixty-eight patient-parent pairs were enrolled in the study: 20 before implementing parental visitation and 48 following implementation. Although no differences were found in children's anxiety levels pre- to postoperatively, the anxiety levels of parents who visited their children in the PACU were significantly lower postoperatively.
Bru
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Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Carmody
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Donohue-Sword
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Bookbinder
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M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011997:Recovery Room / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000523:psychology*