Child behaviour after anaesthesia: association of socioeconomic factors and child behaviour checklist to the post‐hospital behaviour questionnaire

Abstract

Aim: In the process of validation of the Swedish translation of the Post-Hospital Behaviour Questionnaire (PHBQ) to assess its relation to the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and to describe its relation to sociodemographic factors.Method: Three hundred and forty children 2-13 years studied in connection with elective procedures which included anaesthesia. Parents completed the CBCL forms before and after hospitalization as well as the PHBQ 2 weeks after hospitalization.Results: In multivariate analysis of PHBQ total score independent risk factors were: age <5 (OR 2.4; CI 1.4-4.0), living in a one parent family (OR 4.4; CI: 1.6-12.6) and not living in a rural area (OR 1.6; CI: 1.0-2.6). The correlation between the total scores for PHBQ and CBCL for children aged 2-4 was moderate: (r = 0.38; p < 0.005). For children aged 4-7 there were significant correlations between PHBQ sleep anxiety and CBCL Other problems (r = 0.4; p < 0.01), PHBQ eating disturbances and CBCL total score (r = 0.3; p < 0.01), though none of these significant correlations were observed for children above 7 years of age.Conclusion: There is an association between PHBQ and CBCL which is weaker for older children. The reason for this might be that PHBQ is more sensitive in the younger age group and to minor changes in behaviour. Children younger than 5 years of age or living in a one parent family or not living in rural areas appear to have higher incidence of problematic behaviour in a 2 week follow up after anaesthesia.

Postoperative behavioral changes in Chinese children undergoing hypospadias repair surgery: A prospective cohort study

“…In our study, we found that younger children, particularly children who were younger than 4 years old, were prone to exhibiting NPOBCs, confirming the findings of previous studies . The brains of children during this age are developing and are therefore more vulnerable .…”

Child behaviour after anaesthesia: associated risk factors

“…The findings in the previous investigation was that age, one adult family, and living in an urban area were risk factors for problematic PHBQ total score outcome (8). When adding information about the hospital procedure in the present study those factors were still associated with problematic outcome.…”

“…In this study the influence on behaviour by hospitalization including a diagnostic or surgical procedure requiring anaesthesia was investigated. We have previously analysed the impact of sociodemographic (8) factors, and this study is a further step in an attempt at comprehensive analysis of relevant risk factors in the same population. In addition to these data, it appears that pain, especially at home after hospitalization, is a major risk factor.…”

“…Mother with non‐university education changed from being a risk factor for Separation anxiety to become a protective factor for General anxiety. The CBCL score prior to hospitalization in this population has been shown to have an impact on the PHBQ total score (8). When adding this information in multivariate logistic model, the result was that high CBCL scores was a risk factor for Regression‐aggression and Sleep anxiety.…”

“…The CBCL behavioural/emotional portion is divided into two broadband dimensions: Internalizing and Externalizing and those are divided in subscales. In a former study, it was found that children with higher CBCL scores before hospitalization, had higher PHBQ scores (8). In order to confirm this finding the total score was dichotomized with a cut‐off point using the mean of the medians of the two populations.…”