Parental Presence at Induction of Anesthesia to Reduce Anxiety: A Systematic Research and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Purpose: Perioperative anxiety can significantly alter outcomes for pediatric patients. Parental presence at induction of anesthesia (PPIA) is one method of anxiety reduction, but the efficacy remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine if PPIA affects child and caretaker perioperative anxiety levels.

Design: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis METHODS: This study followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases was performed on June 29, 2021. Search terms were related to parental presence in the operating room, anesthesia or anesthesia induction, and pediatric patients. The literature search identified English-language studies comparing children receiving PPIA to controls or studies examining attitudes toward PPIA.

Findings: A total of 21 articles (n = 9573) met inclusion criteria. Seven studies (n = 776) quantified child anxiety with validated scales, and seven studies quantified parent anxiety (n = 621). There was no significant difference in preoperative anxiety between PPIA and controls for patients (P = .27) or caretakers (P = .99). PPIA patients had 8.40 [0.16, 16.64] (P = .05) lower Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale scores compared to control at induction, and parents had 3.41 [0.32, 6.50] (P = .03) lower State-Trait Anxiety Inventory State scores. Three studies concluded that PPIA did not increase operating room time or induction time. Twenty-three studies examined parental attitudes toward PPIA and found that 98.03% [96.09%, 99.32%] of parents present at induction would like to be present at subsequent surgeries. Contention in support for PPIA was seen amongst healthcare providers, but attitudes increasingly favored PPIA after implementation.

Conclusions: PPIA reduces parental and patient anxiety, may increase parental satisfaction, and may not impede operating room efficiency. PPIA should be considered as a valuable tool to improve surgical outcomes and patient and family satisfaction.