Effects of preoperative informational pamphlet on perioperative anxiety in children

INTERVENTION: Children aged 5‐17 years, undergoing elective surgery were enrolled. During the anesthesiological visit that was conducted at least one day before surgery, the physician will give one brochure to the patient and one brochure to the caregivers. The patients brochure contains pictures to color and it is written in a very simple (italian) language. We created two brochures based on the age of the patients (4‐7 years considered as children or 8‐17 years considered as adolescents). they explain how to best deal with the hospitalization period before surgery and after surgery. Similarly, in a more formal language, the parents' brochure helps them address the most common fears and questions regarding the time in hospital before and after their child's surgery. Anxiety was evaluated in children and parents during the anesthesiologic visit, before entering the operating room (at the time of separation), and before induction of anesthesia. CONDITION: anxiety; ; anxiety Mental Health ‐ Anxiety PRIMARY OUTCOME: child's preoperative anxiety level.[child's preoperative anxiety level Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) during the anesthesiologic visit (primary timepoint) , before entering the operating room (at the time of separation from caretakers), and before induction of anesthesia.] SECONDARY OUTCOME: parents preoperative anxiety level[Perioperative Adult and Child Behavioral Interaction Scale (PACBIS) during the anesthesiologic visit, before entering the operating room (at the time of separation from caretakers)] INCLUSION CRITERIA: They were children aged between 5‐17 undergoing general anesthesia, classified according to the American Association of Anesthesiologists as ASA I‐II, who will undergo surgery at the Comple XOperative Units (UOC) of Pediatric Surgery of the AOU Federico II. Parents should understand and speak Italian language.