A mixed‐method systematic review of the effectiveness and acceptability of preoperative psychological preparation programmes to reduce paediatric preoperative anxiety in elective surgery

Dai, Y; Livesley, J

Abstract

Aim
To explore the effectiveness of preoperative psychological preparation programmes aimed to reduce paediatric preoperative anxiety and the potential factors that could have an impact on parent and children's acceptance of such interventions.
Background
Various preoperative psychological preparation programmes are available to address paediatric preoperative anxiety. No mixed‐method review has been conducted to explore the effectiveness and acceptability of these programmes.
Design
A mixed‐method systematic review.
Data sources
Seven bibliographic databases were searched from inception to September 2016, complemented by hand searching of key journals, the reference lists of relevant reviews, search for grey literature and the contacting of associated experts.
Review methods
The review process was conducted based on the framework developed by the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co‐ordinating Centre. A narrative summary and a thematic synthesis were developed to synthesise the quantitative and qualitative data respectively, followed by a third synthesis to combine the previous syntheses.
Results
Nineteen controlled trials and eleven qualitative studies were included for data synthesis. The controlled trials reveal that educational multimedia applications and web‐based programmes may reduce paediatric preoperative anxiety, while the effectiveness of therapeutic play and books remains uncertain. Qualitative studies showed parent‐child dyads seek different levels of information.
Conclusions
Providing matched information provision to each parent and child, actively involving children and their parents and teaching them coping skills, may be the essential hallmarks of a successful preoperative psychological preparation. Further research is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of therapeutic play and books.

Citation

Dai, Y., & Livesley, J. (2018). A mixed‐method systematic review of the effectiveness and acceptability of preoperative psychological preparation programmes to reduce paediatric preoperative anxiety in elective surgery. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 74(9), 2022-2037. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13713

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 4, 2018
• Online Publication Date: May 13, 2018
• Publication Date: May 13, 2018
• Deposit Date: May 30, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 13, 2019
• Journal: Journal Of Advanced Nursing
• Print ISSN: 0309-2402
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2648
• Publisher: Wiley
• Volume: 74
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 2022-2037
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13713
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13713
• Related Public URLs: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652648