Anxiety in children having elective surgery.
One hundred and twenty children aged 5-12 years and their parents were interviewed preoperatively about anxiety and fear. Needles, postoperative pain, the unknown, and many unrecognizable people in the induction room were all reported as increasing anxiety for children. Effective modes of reducing children's anxiety were considered to be the prospect of eating after surgery, staff speaking directly to children in a friendly way, and having a television to watch. Parents' suggestions for reducing children's anxiety included giving better explanations, ensuring that children who have had their operations do not return to the same ward where other children are still waiting, and providing more distractions.
Wollin
Sarah R
SR
Department of Anaesthesia, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
Plummer
John L
JL
Owen
Harry
H
Hawkins
Russell M F
RM
Materazzo
Felicity
F
Morrison
Virginia
V
D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology