The effect of digital and technological interventions on preoperative anxiety in children: Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: The preparation of children undergoing surgery is a process that aims to reduce preoperative anxiety and negative behaviors of children and to reduce the preoperative anxiety of parents.
Purpose: The aim was to investigate the effectiveness of digital and technological interventions in reducing pre-operative anxiety in children undergoing surgery.
Μethodology: Systematic review of the literature using keywords: “children, preoperative, anxiety, virtual reality, video, education”, in international databases (Pubmed and Google Scholar) as well as synonyms and combinations of the terms. The PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, Study Degign) process was used as an evaluative criterion for the selection of articles. The criteria for the inclusion of the articles in the study were: they should concern studies on children and adolescents undergoing surgery under general anesthesia, the articles should be published in reputable scientific journals, the publication date should extend from 2017–2023, the article should concern quantitative primary study.
Results: Preoperative education and distraction using digital and technological interventions has been shown to reduce child and parent anxiety, positively influence children’s cooperation during induction of anesthesia, and increase parental satisfaction with the overall preoperative process. It is an effective, cost-effective and non-invasive way to copy anxiety in children and has the potential to improve overall perioperative care.
Conclusions: Education and distraction with digital and technological interventions can be effective in reducing children’s preoperative anxiety. Videos, interactive games and virtual reality seem to be effective interventions.