Paper
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Different Approaches in Assessing Children's Emotional Responses to Surgery: An Evaluation
Ho Cheung William Li, RN, MPhil, PhD, Department of Nursing Studies, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| Learning Objective #1: recognize which approach is more sensitive in assessing children’s emotional responses to surgery. |
| Learning Objective #2: identify which approach is more appropriate in evaluating the effectiveness of paediatric preoperative nursing preparations. |
Background. The principal methods for assessing children’s emotional responses to surgery have been physiological measurements, self-report measurements, and behaviour ratings by observers. However, it is uncertain from previous literature that which approach is more sensitive in assessing children’s emotional responses to surgery, and is more appropriate in evaluating the effectiveness of paediatric preoperative nursing preparations.
Aims. This study aimed at examining the sensitivity of different approaches in assessing children’s emotional responses to surgery and comparing the appropriateness of different approaches in evaluating the effectiveness of paediatric preoperative nursing preparations.
Methods. Children (7-12 years of age; N = 203) admitted for elective surgery during a 13-month period, were recruited. By using a simple complete randomization method, 97 of children were assigned to receiving preoperative therapeutic play preparation and 106 were assigned to receiving preoperative information preparation. Children’s emotional responses to surgery were assessed by using the Chinese version of the State Anxiety Scale for Children, Children’s Emotional Manifestation Scale, and children’s heart rates and mean arterial blood pressures.
Results. Children with high preoperative anxiety levels manifested more negative emotional behaviour during anaesthesia induction. Those with more negative emotional behaviour or high levels of state anxiety also had faster heart rates and higher mean arterial blood pressures. Among the three approaches in evaluating the effectiveness of paediatric preoperative nursing preparations, the children’s emotional responses as measured by the Children’s Emotional Manifestation Scale were found to have the highest observed statistical power.
Conclusion. This study demonstrates that the Children’s Emotional Manifestation Scale is more sensitive in assessing children’s emotional responses to surgery, and is more appropriate in evaluating the effectiveness of paediatric preoperative nursing preparations than other two approaches.