The Effect of a Preoperative Preparation Video on Preoperative Anxiety Among Children Undergoing Dental Treatment Under General Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND

Preoperative anxiety in children undergoing dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) can have detrimental effects on their well-being during and after the procedure.

AIM: To investigate the effectiveness of a preparation video in reducing preoperative anxiety in children.

DESIGN

84 children (4-7 years) with no previous GA experience who required comprehensive dental treatment under GA were randomly divided into two groups. Participants in the study group watched the video the day before the surgery, while the control group received standard care. Anxiety levels were measured using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YPAS) and Visual Facial Anxiety Scale (VFAS) at different timepoints. Postoperatively, pain and emergence delirium were measured using Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) and Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scales, respectively.

RESULTS

Mean age was 5.29 years (SD = 1.17). Demographics showed no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). Anxiety levels indicated by m-YPAS, were significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group at all timepoints (p < 0.05). The study group exhibited significantly lower VFAS score means at first and second timepoints. Postoperative measures showed no significant differences between groups. No correlation was found between m-YPAS and FLACC or m-YPAS and PAED. However, a moderate correlation was identified between FLACC and PAED.

CONCLUSIONS

The video intervention alleviated preoperative anxiety among children undergoing dental treatment under GA.