A randomized controlled trial of an at-home preparation programme for Japanese preschool children: effects on children's and caregivers' anxiety associated with surgery

Objectives  To determine whether the implementation of at-home psychological preparation programme for children and family prior to surgery can reduce anxiety for Japanese preschool children undergoing herniorrhaphy and their caregivers assessed as an appropriate outpatient care.
Methods  Patients were randomly assigned to either of two groups: the usual care group or the at-home preparation group. Both two groups viewed a patient-educational video for herniorrhaphy once as outpatients with other patients prior to hospitalization. The control group later underwent surgery without any further preparation. The experimental group watched the same educational video at home again with an auxiliary booklet prior to hospitalization. Children's anxiety was measured by the Wong–Baker FACES Rating Scale (FACES Rating Scale), while caregivers' anxiety was measured by the Spielberger's State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Both outcomes were measured repeatedly from pre-intervention to 1 month after surgery.
Results  Of the eligible 161 patients participating, 158 (98.1%) were randomly assigned to the control group ( n  = 81) and the experimental group ( n  = 77), and 144 (89.4%) completed the study. The experimental group gained more information and knowledge about surgery from parents and showed significantly lower scores than the controls for FACES and STAI.
Conclusion  A specially designed at-home preparation programme as an outpatient care is effective to encourage parent–child verbal interaction concerning surgery and reduce both children and caregivers' anxiety associated with surgery.