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Facing surgery can cause significant anxiety for children and their parents. A study published in Anesthesiology details the family-centered surgical behavioral preparation ADVANCE program trial. This trial took place at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital. To reduce anxiety and improve children’s recovery after surgery, the behaviorally centered ADVANCE program targets the family as a whole and consists of several components: Anxiety reduction; Distraction on the day of surgery; Video modeling and education prior to surgery; Adding parents to the child’s surgical experience and promoting family-centered care; No excessive reassurance—a suggestion made to parents for communication with children about surgery; Coaching of parents by researchers to help them succeed; Exposure/Shaping of the child via induction mask practice (the mask placed over the child’s nose and mouth to deliver anesthetic drugs).
The study consisted of 408 parents and children who were undergoing general anesthesia and elective outpatient surgery. Participating families were assigned to one of 4 groups receiving either standard care, parental presence during start of anesthesia, ADVANCE preparation, or administration of oral midazolam (a sedative drug). Families participating in the ADVANCE preparation experienced reduced anxiety prior to surgery for both parents and children. Children in the ADVANCE preparation were also less likely to be disoriented after surgery, were discharged from the hospital faster, and required less pain medication.
(Source: American Society of Anesthesiologists, January 3, 2007)
