title: Psycho-educational preparation of children for anaesthesia: A review of intervention methods.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematically review the different methods available for the psycho-educational preparation of children for anaesthesia induction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles were searched in Academic Search Premier, OvidSP, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Inclusion criteria were psychological and educational preparation of children for anaesthesia and anxiety reduction. The titles of papers and abstracts were reviewed and full copies of selected papers were scrutinized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four empirical studies were identified. Twenty-one articles described preoperative preparation programmes, twelve examined the effects of distractive techniques and eleven reported the effect of parental presence during anaesthesia's induction. Some general characteristics of the different interventions are discussed together with some key psychological and educational factors mediating anxiety in children undergoing anaesthesia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effectiveness of interventions were linked to several factors. Psychological and contextual aspects are discussed. Psycho-educational activities should be better described when reporting their effectiveness in children's preparation for an anaesthesia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient and family characteristics together with organizational and systemic aspects are described in order to guide the choice of the most appropriate preparation method for diverse health care setting.
authors.affiliation: Researcher and Lecturer, Department of Philosophy, Social & Human Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. Electronic address: michele.capurso@unipg.it.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capurso
authors.affiliation: Department of Philosophy, Social & Human Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ragni
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology; D000758:Anesthesia; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Anxiety; Children; Interventions; Medical procedure; Prevention