Abstract
Purpose
Pediatric patients scheduled for procedures with anesthesia experience stress and
feelings of anxiety, but frequently lack the opportunity to report their feelings.
Pediatric patient anxiety may be related to internal (patient perceptions/emotions)
or external (demographic/family knowledge/satisfaction) factors. The purpose of the
study was to explore patient reports of anxiety in young school-age through adolescent
ages, and factors of family satisfaction before a scheduled procedure with anesthesia.
Design
Cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational.
Methods
A voluntary survey including family-report of patient age and past anesthesia, type
of procedure, family satisfaction factors (knowledge of anesthesia; perioperative
concerns), and patient-report of anxiety with a visual analog scale (0-10) was offered
to eligible families at their preanesthesia clinic appointment.
Findings
Completed surveys from 80 families (mean age of patient = 12 years; range 7-17 years)
showed legally authorized guardians (LAGs) felt the preanesthesia visit helped them
understand anesthesia information, but they also had concerns, such as complications
and pain. Patient anxiety ratings ranged from 0 to 10 (M = 3.3, SD = 3.1), and were
slightly higher for patients 11 years and younger (M = 3.8; SD = 3.4). Anxiety ratings
were not significantly correlated with other factors measured.
Conclusions
Pediatric patients, ages 7-17, report preanesthesia anxiety levels ranging from “not
at all” to “worst imaginable,” unrelated to demographic or family factors. Family
members have perioperative concerns that need to be addressed before scheduled procedures.
There is an impetus for improvement in psychosocial assessment and health care team
collaboration to meet needs in a family-centered preanesthesia care model.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 16, 2022
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
