The Effects of Preanesthetic Parental Presence on Preoperative Anxiety of Children and their Parents: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study in Iran

Parental presence during induction of anesthesia (PPIA) has been a controversial issue, with some studies showing its effects on reducing anxiety. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effects of PPIA on preoperative anxiety of children as well as their parents.
This clinical trial was conducted among 60 children aged 2–10 years and their parents. Children were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 30) groups. Children in the control group were taken to the operating room (OR) alone, while those in the intervention group were taken to the OR with one of their parents. When the anesthetic mask was placed on the children’s face (induction), the children’s preoperative anxiety in both groups was assessed using Modified‑Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (M‑YPAS), and after that the parents in the intervention group were escorted to the waiting area. Parents’ anxiety in both the groups was measured by the Spielberg State‑Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in the waiting area. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential (independent t‑test and Chi‑square test) statistic methods through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 18 software.
Results showed no significant difference between children’s anxiety in the intervention (70.83) and control (70.39) groups in the preanesthetic period. In addition, no significant difference was seen between the intervention (79.23) and control (85.86) groups regarding total parents’ anxiety.
PPIA was not successful in reducing the children’s preoperative anxiety as well as parents’ anxiety. Future studies in this area are needed to clarify the effects of this intervention in pediatric populations.