Effects of Educational Video on Pre-operative Anxiety in Children - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: Audio-visual interventions have been used to provide relevant patient information to reduce pre-operative anxiety in children. The aim of the study was to investigate whether self-reported state anxiety in children could be reduced by presenting a child-friendly educational video on the day of surgery.Methods: A prospective, single-blinded, two-armed, randomized controlled study was designed with three measurement time points including 90 children (6–17 years) and their parents. In the intervention group (IG), the children and their parents were shown a child-friendly video explaining the perioperative procedures that would be applied during the hospital stay, in addition to receiving standard information. In the control group (CG), children and parents received standard information provided by the nursing staff. The primary outcome was any change in the children's pre-operative state anxiety levels, as measured by the State-Trait Operation Anxiety Inventory (STOA). A secondary outcome was patient satisfaction regarding the received information.Results: Anxiety was significantly reduced in both groups after receiving either the intervention plus standard information or the standard information only. No significant difference in anxiety reduction was observed between the IG and the CG. However, the children and parents in the IG reported fewer worries than those in the CG.Conclusion: A child-friendly, educational video can be an additional tool for providing patient information and reducing pre-operative anxiety in children and their parents. Further studies should focus on the timing of the intervention and on age- and developmentally appropriate information formats and contents to address children's pre-operative anxiety.Clinical Trial Registration: Patient Anxiety Reduction in Children by Using Simple Explanation Videos, ID: NCT0441377; www.clinicaltrials.gov, Data Sharing Statement: Deidentified individual participant data will not be made available.

A noninferiority trial on information‐based video versus self‐selected video distraction technique for preoperative anxiety reduction in school children: Prepare trial

“…On the contrary, Uyar et al 12 failed to demonstrate the successful use of passive information based cartoon video in reducing preoperative anxiety in children between 5 and 8 years. Similarly, Harter et al did not find significant difference in anxiety levels in children watching educational video and those receiving standard information preoperatively 14 . Our study found noninferiority of information‐based video technique to self‐selected video technique in decreasing preoperative anxiety.…”

“…[8][9][10][11] However, the literature about the use of video-based preoperative information technique for anxiety reduction in children still remains understudied with conflicting results. [12][13][14] Age appropriateness forms the basis of any nonpharmacological intervention for anxiety reduction in children. School going children begin to think logically and start applying reasoning.…”

“…The use of smart phones for watching cartoons, video games has been extensively used as distraction technique to allay PA owing to its ease of implementation 8–11 . However, the literature about the use of video‐based preoperative information technique for anxiety reduction in children still remains understudied with conflicting results 12–14 …”

Web-Based Video Education to Improve Uptake of Influenza Vaccination and Other Preventive Health Recommendations in Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Randomized Controlled Trial of Project PREVENT

“…Other studies showed that educational videos lead to improvements in hemoglobin A 1c levels in patients with diabetes mellitus [ 32 ], improved satisfaction and comfort in patients undergoing transradial coronary angiography [ 33 ], and improved medication compliance in a population with rheumatoid arthritis [ 34 ]. However, videos were not successful in improving preoperative anxiety in a pediatric population [ 35 ]. Although short videos might change short-term beliefs and satisfaction with care, a more extensive intervention is likely needed to change behavior.…”

Effect of self-driving of pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery to the operating room in reducing preoperative anxiety and pain and boost parental satisfaction

“…To reduce children's preoperative anxiety and improve children's cooperation during the induction of anesthesia, pediatric staff have implemented a variety of distraction strategies. In hospitals, several distraction techniques are used to reduce children's anxiety prior to anesthesia induction; these techniques can also be used during parental separation (Härter et al, 2021;Sjöberg et al, 2015).…”