iPads effective in reducing anxiety in children before surgery

New research presented at this year's World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA) in Hong Kong has shown that mobile interactive tools are effective in reducing child anxiety at parental separation in the operating theatre.

In their study presented at the WCA on Sunday, Dr. Dominique Chassard, EPICIME, Hopital Mere Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France, and his colleagues randomly allocated Midazolam (MDZ) to 54 children and gave iPads to another group of 58 children]).

Group MDZ received midazolam 0.3mg/kg orally or rectally, while Group TAB, were given an electronic tablet (iPAD) 20 minutes before anaesthesia.

Child anxiety, using the m-YPAS scale, was measured by two independent psychologists at four time points: 1) at arrival at hospital 2) at separation from the parents 3) during induction and 4) in the post anaesthesia care unit (PACU).

Parental anxiety, using the STAI score, was measured at the same time points except during induction as they were not present at that point.

The researchers found both parental and child anxiety levels to be similar in both groups, with a similar pattern of evolution. Both parents and nurses found anaesthesia more satisfying in the iPad group.

Dr Chassard concludes: "Our study showed that child and parental anxiety before anaesthesia are equally blunted by midazolam or use of the iPad. However, the quality of induction of anaesthesia, as well as parental satisfaction, were judged better in the iPad group. Use of iPads or other tablet devices is a non-pharmacologic tool which can reduce perioperative stress without any sedative effect in paediatric ambulatory surgery.