Exploring Parent/Child Peri-Anesthesia Anxiety and Anesthesia Effects on Children
Description
RESEARCH Approximately four million children undergo procedures with anesthesia yearly. For children and parents, this can be anxiety-provoking. In extant literature, level and timing of pre-anesthesia anxiety in children are not adequately studied; associated factors are largely unknown in humans. Preparing for anesthesia and its effects may cause parental worry, and little is known about these effects on school-age children in the weeks following a procedure. The purpose of this study was to explore longitudinal peri-anesthesia factors of anxiety and behavior in children ages 7 through 12. Spanish and English-speaking dyads consented to four data collection points beginning at the pre-anesthesia clinic (visit #1) when the Zero to Ten visual analog scale for child anxiety and the adult State Anxiety scale were administered. The child scale was repeated on procedure day (visit #2). The Post Hospitalization Behavior Scale for Ambulatory Surgery was administered to parents two and four weeks after anesthesia. Using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, parametric, and nonparametric analysis, results of the first 66 dyads reveal children have significantly higher (2nd quartile) anxiety on visit #2 compared to visit #1 (p<.001), with a weak correlation to parent anxiety at both visits. Spanish-speaking parents feel significantly less prepared for their child’s anesthesia (p<.001) and have significantly higher pre-anesthesia state anxiety levels vs. English-speaking parents (p<.005). Child post-anesthesia behavior scores are in the first quartile (mild), decline over time, and are not significantly related to anesthesia duration. In conclusion, pre-anesthesia anxiety exists in 7 to 12-year-olds, particularly on the day of their procedure. Parental anxiety has little effect on child pre-anesthesia anxiety, however, lack of knowledge and higher state anxiety in the Spanish-speaking parent subset is concerning. Anesthesia duration has no significant effect on post-anesthesia behavior. In the future it is important to assess and address child anxiety, parent knowledge, and to reassure parents regarding mild post-anesthesia behavior difficulties that typically resolve
