Strategies for Managing Preoperative Anxiety in Children: A Comprehensive Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20956/nmsj.v10i1.44560Abstract
Introduction: Preoperative anxiety is prevalent among pediatric patients and may adversely affect anesthetic induction, postoperative recovery, and long-term psychological outcomes. It arises from developmental vulnerability, lack of understanding, and exposure to unfamiliar environments. Method: This narrative review synthesizes evidence from studies retrieved via PubMed, ScienceDirect, and EBSCO, using keywords related to preoperative anxiety, pediatric patients, and management strategies. The review explores both risk factors and intervention modalities. Results: The database search using predefined keywords yielded a total of 193 articles. After screening and eligibility assessment, 22 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this literature review. Conclusions: A comprehensive, individualized approach combining both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies is essential to effectively manage preoperative anxiety in children. Early identification of risk factors and tailored interventions can significantly enhance perioperative experiences and outcomes.
References
1. Cui X, Zhu B, Zhao J, Huang Y, Luo A, Wei J. Parental state anxiety correlates with preoperative anxiety in Chinese preschool children. J Paediatr Child Health 2016; 52: 649–655.
2. Getahun AB, Endalew NS, Mersha AT, Admass BA. Magnitude and Factors Associated with Preoperative Anxiety Among Pediatric Patients: Cross-Sectional Study. Pediatric Health Med Ther 2020; Volume 11: 485–494.
3. Yang Y, Zhang M, Sun Y, Peng Z, Zheng X, Zheng J. Effects of advance exposure to an animated surgery-related picture book on preoperative anxiety and anesthesia induction in preschool children: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatr 2022; 22: 92.
4. Britteon P, Cullum N, Sutton M. Association between psychological health and wound complications after surgery. British Journal of Surgery 2017; 104: 769–776.
5. Liang Y, Huang W, Hu X, Jiang M, Liu T, Yue H et al. Preoperative anxiety in children aged 2–7 years old: a cross-sectional analysis of the associated risk factors. Transl Pediatr 2021; 10: 2024–2034.
6. Ahmed MI, Farrell MA, Parrish K, Karla A. Preoperative anxiety in children risk factors and non-pharmacological management. Middle East J Anaesthesiol 2011; 21: 153–64.
7. Heikal S, Stuart G. Anxiolytic premedication for children. BJA Educ 2020; 20: 220–225.
8. Fricke HM. Psychosocial preoperative preparation in a non-children’s hospital without child life supports). 2021.https://dc.ewu.edu/theses/720/ (accessed 10 Dec2024).
9. Liu W, Xu R, Jia J, Shen Y, Li W, Bo L. Research Progress on Risk Factors of Preoperative Anxiety in Children: A Scoping Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19. doi:10.3390/ijerph19169828.
10. Kar SK, Ganguly T. Preoperative Anxiety in Pediatric Population: Anesthesiologist"s Nightmare. Transl Biomed 2015; 6: 1–9.
11. Agbayani CJG, Fortier MA, Kain ZN. Non-pharmacological methods of reducing perioperative anxiety in children. BJA Educ. 2020; 20: 424–430.
12. Chow CHT, Van Lieshout RJ, Schmidt LA, Dobson KG, Buckley N. Systematic Review: Audiovisual Interventions for Reducing Preoperative Anxiety in Children Undergoing Elective Surgery. J Pediatr Psychol 2016; 41: 182–203.
13. Rajeswari SR, Ramesh MV. Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy and Audiovisual Distraction for Management of Preoperative Anxiety in Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2019; 12: 419–422.
14. Wang R, Huang X, Wang Y, Akbari M. Non-pharmacologic Approaches in Preoperative Anxiety, a Comprehensive Review. Front Public Health 2022; 10: 854673.
15. Mathias EG, Pai MS, Guddattu V, Bramhagen AC. Non-pharmacological interventions to reduce anxiety among children undergoing surgery: A systematic review. Journal of Child Health Care 2023; 27: 466–487.
16. Sullivan V, Sullivan DH, Weatherspoon D. Parental and Child Anxiety Perioperatively: Relationship, Repercussions, and Recommendations. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing 2021; 36: 305–309.
17. Santapuram P, Stone AL, Walden RL, Alexander L. Interventions for Parental Anxiety in Preparation for Pediatric Surgery: A Narrative Review. Children (Basel) 2021; 8. doi:10.3390/children8111069.
18. Chow CHT, Van Lieshout RJ, Schmidt LA, Dobson KG, Buckley N. Systematic Review: Audiovisual Interventions for Reducing Preoperative Anxiety in Children Undergoing Elective Surgery. J Pediatr Psychol 2016; 41: 182–203.
19. Kim J, Chiesa N, Raazi M, Wright KD. A systematic review of technology-based preoperative preparation interventions for child and parent anxiety. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. 2019; 66: 966–986.
20. Eijlers R, Dierckx B, Staals LM, Berghmans JM, Van Der Schroeff MP, Strabbing EM et al. Virtual reality exposure before elective day care surgery to reduce anxiety and pain in children: A randomised controlled trial. Eur J Anaesthesiol 2019; 36: 728–737.
21. Dave NM. Premedication and induction of anaesthesia in paediatric patients. Indian J Anaesth. 2019; 63: 713–720.
22. Simić D, Stanković Z, Stević M, Petrov-Bojičić I. Oral premedication with benzodiazepines. Galenika Medical Journal 2023; 2: 41–45.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Riswandi Riswandi, Kohar Hari Santoso, Lucky Andriyanto
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
