RELAX Anaesthetics: the Effect of a Bespoke Relaxation App on Stress Levels in Children Undergoing Anaesthesia
- Conditions
- Surgery
- Interventions
- Other: iPad app containing art, music and gamesOther: Toys, books and games
- Registration Number
- NCT02321657
- Lead Sponsor
- Royal College of Music
- Brief Summary
RELAX Anaesthetics is a randomised clinical trial assessing the effectiveness of using an iPad app with art, music and games to relax and distract children, reduce anaesthetic induction time and make drug cost savings prior to surgery.
- Detailed Description
The most distressing part of a parent's experience in hospital is watching a child undergo intravenous cannulation.1 This is commonly performed in the anaesthetic room prior to induction of anaesthesia. At Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust (CWFT) over 5000 children undergo operations every year. Traditional methods of distracting the child during have included blowing bubbles, storybooks, and a variety of toys and games. These methods are not always effective and may present an infection risk due to inability to clean between uses.
The use of an android/iPad provides a platform for effectively distracting the child with a choice of games, video and music, with the advantage of being cleaned between uses. Users of this platform are required to select the application that is most appropriate for the age, sex, method of anaesthesia, and compliance level of the child. To assist with this, the investigators have developed an application system that will select a range of entertainment applications appropriate for each child based on these four variables and hopefully help to keep children calm before their operations.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 100
- children ages 2 -12 years
- requiring general anaesthesia
- ASA assessment of fitness for surgery score 1 - 3
- intravenous cannula already in situ
- play therapist already in use
- anaesthetist refusal to participate
- parental / patient refusal to participate
- sedative or opiate pre-med already administered
- not requiring general anaesthesia
- ASA assessment of fitness for surgery score 4 or 5
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description iPad app containing art, music and games iPad app containing art, music and games On entry to the anaesthetic room, children will be given an iPad (the intervention) with art, music and games to distract them. A nurse will help them engage with the iPad whilst the anaesthetists complete the anaesthetic. Once the child falls asleep, the iPad will be removed. This process is anticipated to last between 3 and 30 minutes depending on the time taken to anaesthetise the child. Toys, books and games Toys, books and games On entry to the anaesthetic room, children will be given toys or games to distract them. A nurse will help them play whilst the anaesthetists complete the anaesthetic. Once the child falls asleep, the games will be removed. This process is anticipated to last between 3 and 30 minutes depending on the time taken to anaesthetise the child.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale Change between baseline and completion of cannulation (2 hours later) An observational scale assessing distress levels
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Paediatric Anaesthetic Emergence Delirium Score Single measurement taken from observation over 15 minutes immediately following surgery An observational scale assessing delirium levels post surgery
State Trait Anxiety Inventory Change between baseline and completion of cannulation (2 hours later) A psychological scale measuring parental anxiety before and following the anaesthetic procedure for their child
Trial Locations
- Locations (2)
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
🇬🇧London, United Kingdom
Centre for Performance Science, Royal College of Music
🇬🇧London, United Kingdom