Preoperative anxiety in children and their parents : the parents’ perspective of the anxiety experienced by a child prior to surgery, the emotional effect on the parent and the care a nurse can provide : a qualitative study
Olson, Neil (2018)
Olson, Neil
Yrkeshögskolan Novia
2018
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018060612961
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018060612961
Tiivistelmä
The overall aim of this thesis is to investigate the pre-operative anxiety experienced by children and the emotional effect the situation has on their parents. The study focuses on the effects that parental presence in the operating room has on the child as well as what actions a nurse can take to effectively support and reduce anxiety in the child and the parents. The desired outcome of this study is to raise awareness within the target group (healthcare professionals, nursing students and the general public) of the possible emotional needs of the child and the parents prior to surgery. The background of this study is focused on three areas; preoperative anxiety in children, parental presence in the operating room and the nurse’s role in reducing anxiety in the child and their parents. Orlando’s (1990) Nursing Process Discipline Theory which discusses the nurse-patient relationship and the various aspects of a patient who is expressing a need, was utilized as the theoretical framework.
In this empirical study, semi-structured interviews, with the aid of a topic guide (see Appendix 1), were conducted. The data from five parents were then transcribed and a table (see Appendix 2) was created, facilitating the analyzation of the data through qualitative data analysis using an inductive approach. Three themes were discovered; Pre-operative anxiety in a child, Pre-operative anxiety reduction in a child and Parental experience of a child undergoing surgery. Multiple manifestations of anxiety in children were discovered. Various emotions and effects of the surgery on the parents were also identified and discussed. Finally, multiple methods were found that a nurse can employ to reduce anxiety in both parents and their children.
In this empirical study, semi-structured interviews, with the aid of a topic guide (see Appendix 1), were conducted. The data from five parents were then transcribed and a table (see Appendix 2) was created, facilitating the analyzation of the data through qualitative data analysis using an inductive approach. Three themes were discovered; Pre-operative anxiety in a child, Pre-operative anxiety reduction in a child and Parental experience of a child undergoing surgery. Multiple manifestations of anxiety in children were discovered. Various emotions and effects of the surgery on the parents were also identified and discussed. Finally, multiple methods were found that a nurse can employ to reduce anxiety in both parents and their children.