Preoperative anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery : risk factors and nursing interventions
Demkovska, Nataliya; Dornelas, Bruno; Liukka, Johanna (2021)
Demkovska, Nataliya
Dornelas, Bruno
Liukka, Johanna
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021120223202
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021120223202
Tiivistelmä
Children often experience severe anxiety before surgery and during anaesthesia induction. Nurses are challenged to deliver adequate support for children and their families during the perioperative phase. The purpose of this study was to detect risk factors that often contribute to the development of anxiety in children who are admitted for elective surgery. Another aim was to find effective and easily accessible methods for nurses and nursing students who are caring for paediatric patients and are in close contact with their families. The objective was to increase the awareness of this phenomenon among nurses and to facilitate the safety of surgical care.
The study was conducted with a qualitative approach and searches were carried out by using CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO and PubMed databases. The data was collected between April and May in 2021. Twenty-three international studies were included in this review. Based on the results, it was concluded that the most common risk factors for development of anxiety can be further divided into influenceable and non-influenceable factors. For example, age or the temperament of a child cannot be changed, but the surroundings of the hospital environment can be arranged so that it becomes less threatening. The findings suggest that interventions, such as educational preparation, distraction methods and parental presence can significantly benefit children if used correctly. Combinations of certain interventions were found to be more effective than relying merely on a single method.
The choice of appropriate interventions requires a careful consideration of the patient's age, previous experiences, personal preference, and potential behavioural issues. Nursing interventions combined with an empathetic communication and active listening have a major impact on the whole surgical experience and make it more endurable for children and their families.
The study was conducted with a qualitative approach and searches were carried out by using CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO and PubMed databases. The data was collected between April and May in 2021. Twenty-three international studies were included in this review. Based on the results, it was concluded that the most common risk factors for development of anxiety can be further divided into influenceable and non-influenceable factors. For example, age or the temperament of a child cannot be changed, but the surroundings of the hospital environment can be arranged so that it becomes less threatening. The findings suggest that interventions, such as educational preparation, distraction methods and parental presence can significantly benefit children if used correctly. Combinations of certain interventions were found to be more effective than relying merely on a single method.
The choice of appropriate interventions requires a careful consideration of the patient's age, previous experiences, personal preference, and potential behavioural issues. Nursing interventions combined with an empathetic communication and active listening have a major impact on the whole surgical experience and make it more endurable for children and their families.