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Does Virtual Parental Presence Reduce Preoperative Anxiety in Children

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Anxiety
Interventions
Behavioral: virtual
Behavioral: coaching
Behavioral: no coaching
Behavioral: physical
Registration Number
NCT02950415
Lead Sponsor
The Hospital for Sick Children
Brief Summary

Children undergoing anesthesia are often very frightened by the experience. This can lead to bed wetting, nightmares and stranger anxiety that can last for weeks. Moreover, this can influence their future experiences with anesthesia and surgery. The investigators believe the presence of a parent via video might work better as parental fear is not transferred to the child. The investigators also believe that parents who are coached on how to assist their child during anesthesia will have a better impact. As such the investigators are carrying out this study to assess whether parents who are coached and are present in either video or physical form will be more effective in reducing anxiety at induction of anesthesia.

Detailed Description

The investigators' goal in this study is to investigate the effects of virtual parental presence and coaching of parents on anxiety in children at induction of anesthesia. The primary hypothesis is virtual parental presence during induction of anesthesia is superior to physical parental presence during induction of anesthesia in reducing anxiety in children at induction of anesthesia. The secondary hypothesis is that the coaching of parents modulates the effect of physical or video parental presence at induction anesthesia on children's anxiety.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
44
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Children from ages 18 months to 12 years old
  2. American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I, II or III
  3. No previous exposure to anesthesia or surgery
  4. Same Day surgery
  5. English speaking parents and child
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Children with developmental delay
  2. Children with psychological / emotional disorders
  3. Children with language barrier
  4. Previous anesthetic or surgical experience
  5. Children whose eyes will be closed following surgery
  6. Children on sedative or psychoactive medication
  7. History of allergy to medications in our study
  8. Children with expected difficult intubation
  9. Children presenting for emergency surgery
  10. Family history or personal history of malignant hyperthermia / risk of malignant hyperthermia
  11. Consent not obtained or withdrawal of consent
  12. Children who are violent during induction of anesthesia
  13. Cancellation of surgery

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
virtual + coachingvirtualParent is present virtually via an internet pad (iPad) and has received coaching about how best to verbally soothe child
physical + coachingcoachingParent is physically present and has received coaching about how best to verbally soothe child
physical + no coachingno coachingParent is physically present and has not received coaching about how best to verbally soothe child
virtual + coachingcoachingParent is present virtually via an internet pad (iPad) and has received coaching about how best to verbally soothe child
physical + coachingphysicalParent is physically present and has received coaching about how best to verbally soothe child
virtual + no coachingvirtualParent is present virtually via an internet pad (iPad) and has not received coaching about how best to verbally soothe child
virtual + no coachingno coachingParent is present virtually via an internet pad (iPad) and has not received coaching about how best to verbally soothe child
physical + no coachingphysicalParent is physically present and has not received coaching about how best to verbally soothe child
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Anxiety in childrenDay of surgery, immediately following consent

measured using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS)

Change in child anxietyDay of surgery, immediately preceding surgery

measured using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Parental anxietyDay of surgery, immediately following consent

measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

Anesthesiologist satisfaction with task loadDay of surgery, immediately following surgery

measured using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX)

Anesthetic requirementsDay of surgery, from time of randomisation up to 4 hours afterwards

includes recording dose of anesthetic(s) used on a data collection form

Induction complianceDay of surgery, immediately preceding surgery

measured using the Induction Compliance Checklist

Change in parental anxietyDay of surgery, immediately preceding surgery

measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

Parental satisfactionDay of surgery, five minutes after surgery has commenced

measured using The Hospital for Sick Children satisfaction questionnaire

Post-hospitalization negative behavioursTwo to three days after surgery

measured using the Posthospitalization Behaviour Questionnaire (PHBQ)

Child temperamentDay of surgery, immediately following consent

measured using the Emotionality Activity Sociability Impulsivity Instrument of Child Temperament (EASI)

Anesthesiologist satisfaction with technology usabilityDay of surgery, immediately following surgery

measured using the System Usability Scale (SUS)

Induction nurse satisfaction with task loadDay of surgery, immediately following surgery

measured using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX)

Induction nurse satisfaction with technology usabilityDay of surgery, immediately following surgery

measured using the System Usability Scale (SUS)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Hospital for Sick Children

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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