Bookbased Emotion and Anxiety Reduction

Background and Rationale:Many children experience significant anxiety before scheduled surgical procedures.Literature indicates that up to 60% of pediatric patients exhibit substantialpreoperative anxiety. This fear is primarily driven by an unfamiliar hospitalenvironment, separation from parents, anticipation of pain, and a lack of understandingregarding the upcoming procedures. High levels of preoperative anxiety can complicate theclinical workflow, increase patient stress, elevate post‐operative pain perception, andlead to negative postoperative behavioral changes. This study investigates whether aspecially designed, age‐appropriate children's book can effectively reduce preoperativeanxiety. The educational book utilizes pictures and simplified language to explain theprocesses of anesthesia and surgery in a child‐friendly manner.Study Design and Objectives: This is a randomized controlled trial aiming to evaluate theefficacy of an educational children's book as a low‐threshold intervention to mitigatepreoperative anxiety in pediatric patients. The primary objective is to assess whetherintroducing this book during home preparation significantly decreases anxiety scorescompared to standard care.Participant Enrollment and Randomization: The study aims to enroll a total of 50pediatric patients. Eligible participants are children aged 4 to 10 years scheduled forelective surgery (inguinal, umbilical, or ventral hernia repair) at the Inselspital Bern.Upon enrollment, participants will be randomly allocated into one of two parallel groups:Intervention Group: Participants receive the specialized children's book for preoperativepreparation at home.Control Group: Participants receive standard preoperative preparation without theeducational book.Data Collection and Outcomes: Children's anxiety levels will be measured using anestablished, validated observational scale. Assessments will take place at two timepoints: during the initial preliminary outpatient examination (baseline) and on the dayof surgery prior to the induction of anesthesia. Secondary outcomes and confoundingvariables will also be recorded, including:The child's level of cooperation during the induction of anesthesia. The total dosage ofanesthetic medication required. Parental anxiety levels, measured via a briefself‐reported questionnaire.Risk Assessment: Participation in this study carries minimal risk. The interventionconsists solely of providing an educational book and observing standard clinical andbehavioral outcomes. No additional medical interventions, invasive procedures, oralterations to the standard surgical protocol are involved.Significance: If the intervention proves successful, this educational tool could beimplemented into routine clinical practice to improve preoperative preparation andemotional well‐being for pediatric surgical patients