A comparative evaluation of efficacy of smartphone based intervention v/s standard premedication using oral midazolam for preoperative anxiety in paediatric patients.

This thesis aims to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of smartphone-based interventions versus oral midazolam in managing preoperative anxiety among pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. Preoperative anxiety affects up to 60% of children and is associated with difficult anesthetic induction, prolonged recovery, and negative postoperative behaviors. While oral midazolam remains a standard pharmacological premedication, it carries risks such as paradoxical reactions, respiratory depression, and delayed recovery. Non-pharmacological strategies, particularly digital tools like smartphone-based distraction and relaxation applications, have shown promising results internationally but remain underexplored in India.

The proposed study will be a prospective, randomized controlled trial conducted at Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, involving 60 children aged 3–7 years (ASA I and II), divided equally into two groups: smartphone intervention and oral midazolam. Outcomes will be assessed using validated scales—the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale-Short Form (mYPAS-SF) for child anxiety, the Induction Compliance Checklist (ICC) for cooperation during induction, perioperative hemodynamic monitoring, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for parental anxiety.

The findings are expected to determine whether smartphone-based methods can provide a safe, effective, and economical alternative to sedative premedication, potentially transforming pediatric perioperative care in resource-limited settings.