Introduction of a paediatric anaesthesia comic information leaflet reduced preoperative anxiety in children

Abstract Background The aim of the study was to determine whether the introduction of a paediatric anaesthesia comic information leaflet reduced preoperative anxiety levels of children undergoing major surgery. Secondary objectives were to determine whether the level of understanding of participants and other risk factors influence STAIC-S (State–Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children'state subscale) score in children. Methods We performed a randomized controlled parallel-group trial comparing preoperative anxiety between two groups of children aged >6 and Results One hundred and fifteen children were randomized between April 2009 and April 2013. An intention-to-treat analysis on data from 111 patients showed a significant reduction ( P =0.002) in STAIC-S in the intervention group ( n =54, mean=−2.2) compared with the control group ( n =57, mean=0.90). The multiple regression analysis did not show any influence on STAIC-S scores of the level of education, parental anxiety, or the intelligence quotient of the children. Conclusions A paediatric anaesthesia comic information leaflet was a cheap and effective means of reducing preoperative anxiety, measured by STAIC-S, in children. Clinical trials registration NCT 00841022.