The effects of an educational programme on the anxiety and satisfaction level of parents having parent present induction and visitation in a postanaesthesia care unit

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Abstract
Background: In Hong Kong, some hospitals have established the practice of Parental Presence Induction (PPI) and visitation in Postanaesthesia Care Units (PACU) for children receiving surgery. The literature indicates that parents reported extreme anxiety and discomfort after being present at induction of anaesthesia and suggests that it would seem appropriate to devise a programme of education to reduce anxiety for parents. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest and post-test design was employed. Parents in the experimental group received an educational programme about the role and expectations of parents having PPI and visitation in PACU together with an information pamphlet. The comparison group received routine (verbal) instructions. The Chinese version of the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Parental Satisfaction with Care Questionnaire were used to assess parents' anxiety and satisfaction with care. Results: A total of 50 parents (mostly mothers) were recruited. Twenty-five were allocated in the intervention group and 25 in the comparison group. The children were aged 1–9 years with a mean age of 2.9 years. There were 46 male and four female children. The results demonstrate that parents who received an education programme reported a decrease in anxiety (P < 0.001) and an increase in their satisfaction with the care provided (P < 0.001). A significant negative relationship (r=−0.61, P < 0.001) between parental anxiety postoperatively and the satisfaction with care score was also obtained, suggesting that lower levels of parental anxiety are associated with higher levels of satisfaction. Conclusions: The study suggests that an educational programme preparing parents for their child's induction of anaesthesia and visitation to the PACU should be offered, as it can reduce their anxiety with the practice of PPI and visitation in the PACU and increase parents' satisfaction with care.