The effect of a preoperative patient information video on child and caregiver anxiety: a prospective, non-randomised, controlled study

Abstract

Background: Preoperative anxiety is common in paediatric patients and associated with significant adverse postoperative outcomes. Video techniques to alleviate preoperative anxiety are effective in adult patients, whilst there is variable evidence in children. In our setting, there is limited evidence demonstrating a similar impact on paediatric patients and their caregivers.

Methods: This was a prospective, non-randomised, controlled study to determine if exposure to a preoperative anaesthetic information video reduces anxiety levels in paediatric patients and their caregivers before surgery, compared to those who had routine preoperative counselling. A video was shown before the theatre, and a clip of the same video was shown pre-induction. Paediatric anxiety was assessed in the waiting area (T0) and at induction (T1) using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) for the child and the 6-point State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) for the caregiver.

Results: A total of 173 participants were included, 90 in the control group and 83 in the intervention group. The demographics of the groups were similar, except for the control group having younger patients (median [interquartile range, IQR], 6 [3–8] vs. intervention group 7 [5–9.75]; p = 0.03). Caregivers experienced a similar incidence of “high anxiety” in the control and intervention groups (59/90 [66%] vs. 61/83 [73%]; p = 0.52). There was no significant difference in median (IQR) STAI-6 scores between groups (control group 50.0 [43.4–53.5] and intervention group 50.0 [43.4–53.5]; p = 0.32). We also did not find a significant difference in the median (IQR) childhood anxiety measured by the mYPAS between groups at either T0 (39.6 [27.1–50.0] vs. 33.3 [22.9–45.8]; p = 0.107), or T1 (39.6 [33.3–53.6] vs. 39.6 [27.1–50.0]; p = 0.386).

Conclusion: A preoperative information video did not alter caregiver or child anxiety in our study. While we believe the video is an invaluable tool for education, consistent counselling, and information provision to patients in a familiar language, it does not demonstrably impact perioperative anxiety in our setting.