Impact of a novel bundled information, education, & communication video on preoperative anxiety in paediatric patients: A randomised controlled trial.

Background & objectives Preoperative anxiety affects 40-75 per cent of children undergoing surgery, leading to postoperative complications. While pharmacological methods have limitations, informational videos have shown promise in reducing anxiety. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the impact of a novel Hindi animated Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) video on preoperative anxiety in Indian children undergoing elective surgeries. The study hypothesised that the video would significantly reduce anxiety scores. Methods A pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted with 30 children aged 5-10 yr scheduled for elective surgeries under general anaesthesia. Participants were randomly assigned to a video intervention group (VI) or a control group (C). Baseline and preoperative anxiety were measured using the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YPAS), Child Fear Scale (CFS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for parents. Postoperative emergence delirium and behavioural changes were assessed using the Paediatric Emergence Delirium (PAED) score and Post-Hospitalisation Behaviour Questionnaire (PHBQ). Results Children in the VI group showed significantly lower preoperative anxiety (m-YPAS: 47.9 (10.23) vs. 77.08 (8.38); P<0.001) and heart rates compared to the C group. CFS and STAI-S scores were also significantly lower in the VI group. Although the VI group showed reduced anxiety, there was no significant impact on emergence delirium or postoperative behaviour by day 30. Interpretation & conclusions The Hindi animated IEC video effectively reduced preoperative anxiety in children, highlighting the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions. However, its impact on postoperative outcomes requires further investigation with a larger sample size.