Non-pharmacological interventions to reduce preoperative anxiety in children : implications for nursing practice
Naluyima, Chloe Julian; Patuwatha Withanage, Dulini Nisanka (2026)
2026
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202603124214
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202603124214
Tiivistelmä
Preoperative anxiety is common in children undergoing surgery and can negatively affect the mental well-being, cooperation and surgical outcome of a child. As nurses play a key role in pediatric preoperative care, it is important to determine what the non-pharmacological interventions are that can be used to reduce preoperative anxiety in children.
The purpose of this literature review was to determine, examine and describe the effective non-pharmacological interventions nurses can implement to reduce preoperative anxiety in children and adolescents.
The systematic search was done in PubMed, CINAHL and ScienceDirect for peer reviewed primary research articles published between 2020 to 2025. The search process was done using the PICo framework. After the screening of 216 articles, seven quantitative studies were selected for the final analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Analysis and categorizing were conducted using the inductive content analysis method.
The results emphasized that several non-pharmacological interventions reduced preoperative anxiety in children aged 4-12 years. These effective interventions included distraction-based methods, art-based activities, educational interventions, comfort-oriented nursing care, audio-based interventions, and technological interventions. All these interventions can be used effectively, safely and feasibly by nurses in preoperative clinical settings.
However, most of the studies have focused on younger children (school aged and middle childhood), evidence was limited regarding the adolescents, highlighting the necessity of more research in this developmental age group. Adding nonpharmacological strategies that reduce anxiety into the normal nursing care routine effectively improves mental well-being and overall surgical experience in children.
The purpose of this literature review was to determine, examine and describe the effective non-pharmacological interventions nurses can implement to reduce preoperative anxiety in children and adolescents.
The systematic search was done in PubMed, CINAHL and ScienceDirect for peer reviewed primary research articles published between 2020 to 2025. The search process was done using the PICo framework. After the screening of 216 articles, seven quantitative studies were selected for the final analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Analysis and categorizing were conducted using the inductive content analysis method.
The results emphasized that several non-pharmacological interventions reduced preoperative anxiety in children aged 4-12 years. These effective interventions included distraction-based methods, art-based activities, educational interventions, comfort-oriented nursing care, audio-based interventions, and technological interventions. All these interventions can be used effectively, safely and feasibly by nurses in preoperative clinical settings.
However, most of the studies have focused on younger children (school aged and middle childhood), evidence was limited regarding the adolescents, highlighting the necessity of more research in this developmental age group. Adding nonpharmacological strategies that reduce anxiety into the normal nursing care routine effectively improves mental well-being and overall surgical experience in children.