Determinant factors of preoperative anxiety in pediatric patients.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/asce.v5i1.652Keywords:
Anxiety; Pediatrics; Surgical procedures; Child mental health; Non-pharmacological interventionAbstract
Preoperative anxiety is a frequent phenomenon in pediatric patients prior to surgical procedures, with significant clinical and emotional repercussions. The objective of this study was to analyze the determining factors of preoperative anxiety in children.
An integrative literature review was conducted, including studies with qualitative, quantitative, and mixed approaches. The search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, as well as accredited university repositories. Articles published between 2020 and 2025, in Spanish and English, were considered. The selection process followed the PRISMA protocol, initially identifying 100 records. After removing duplicates and screening titles and abstracts, 11 studies were ultimately included for analysis, based on their methodological quality and thematic relevance.
The results showed that the main factors associated with preoperative anxiety were the child's age, previous surgical experiences, the hospital environment, and parental anxiety, with maternal anxiety being the most prevalent. Children between 2 and 6 years old presented higher levels of anxiety, mainly related to fear of separation from their parents and a limited understanding of the procedure. The prevalence of preoperative anxiety ranged from 41.7% to 80%. Furthermore, it was identified that non-pharmacological interventions, such as age-appropriate preoperative education, virtual reality, and music therapy, achieved a significant reduction in anxiety, especially when implemented with parental support.
It was concluded that addressing preoperative anxiety in pediatric patients requires a comprehensive, evidence-based approach.
Downloads
References
Aleo, E., Aleo, E., López Picado, A., López Picado, A., Joyanes Abancens, B., Joyanes Abancens, B., Soto Beauregard, C., Soto Beauregard, C., Tur Salamanca, N., Esteban Polonios, C., Torrejón, M. J., González Perrino, C., Rivas Rivas, A. M., Rivas Rivas, A. M., Arias, E., Rodríguez, D., Rivas, M. Á., Rodríguez Rojo, M. L., Fernández García, P., & San Pedro de Urquiza, B. (2021). Evaluation of the effect of hydroxyzine on preoperative anxiety and anesthetic adequacy in children: Double blind randomized clinical trial. BioMed Research International, 2021, Article 7394042. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/7394042 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/7394042
Aleo, E., López Picado, A., Rivas, A. M., Joyanes Abancens, B., Rodríguez Rojo, M. L., Fernández García, P., Soto Beauregard, C., Rodríguez Alarcón, J., González Perrino, C., San Pedro de Urquiza, B., Arias, E., Rodríguez, D., Esteban Polonios, C., & Torrejón, M. J. (2020). Pre-operative anxiolysis in children through a combined pharmacological therapy with hydroxyzine and a non-pharmacological distraction technique with a clown (SONRISA): Study protocol for randomised double-blind clinical trial. Trials, 21(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/S13063-019-3906-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3906-2
Battah, H., AlZoraigi, U., & Shubbak, F. (2021). Effectiveness of a preoperative tour to a simulated anesthesia induction in reducing preoperative anxiety in children and their parents. BMJ Simulation & Technology Enhanced Learning, 7, 116–116. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjstel-2020-000707 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjstel-2020-000707
Belete, A., Simeneh, N., Endalew, X., Mersha, A. T., & Admass, B. (2022). Magnitude and factors associated with preoperative anxiety among pediatric patients: Cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(16), 9828. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169828
Chamberland, C., Bransi, M., Boivin, A., Jacques, S., Gagnon, J., & Tremblay, S. (2023). The effect of augmented reality on preoperative anxiety in children and adolescents: A randomized controlled trial. Pediatric Anesthesia, 34(2), 153–159. https://doi.org/10.1111/pan.14793 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pan.14793
Cristaldo, F. (2021). Enfermería en el manejo del dolor y la gestión de la ansiedad. Revista Científica de Salud y Desarrollo Humano, 2(1), 97–113. https://doi.org/10.61368/r.s.d.h.v2i1.18 DOI: https://doi.org/10.61368/r.s.d.h.v2i1.18
Fenikowski, D., & Tomaszek, L. (2022). Factors related to anxiety in pediatric patients and their parents before and after a modified Ravitch procedure: A single-centre cohort study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(24), 16701. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416701 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416701
Fronk, E., & Billick, S. B. (2020). Pre-operative anxiety in pediatric surgery patients: Multiple case study analysis with literature review. Psychiatric Quarterly, 91(4), 1439–1451. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11126-020-09780-Z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-020-09780-z
García Nieto, M. T., Rubio Pascual, P., Díaz Oliver, A. M., Sierra García, P., & Vinagre Gaspar, R. (2023). Un ejemplo de responsabilidad social en el proceso prequirúrgico pediátrico: Lucas y el hilo mágico. Revista de Comunicación y Salud, 13(1), 38–56. https://doi.org/10.35669/rcys.2023.13.e316 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35669/rcys.2023.13.e316
Gold, J. I., Annick, E. T., Lane, A. S., Ho, K., Marty, R. T., & Espinoza, J. (2021). “Doc McStuffins: Doctor for a Day” virtual reality (DocVR) for pediatric preoperative anxiety and satisfaction: Pediatric medical technology feasibility study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(4), e25504. https://doi.org/10.2196/25504 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/25504
Granados Cerrón, L. M. (2021). Tendencias sobre las intervenciones de enfermería para la disminución de la ansiedad en el preoperatorio (Tesis de especialización, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia).
Jerez-Molina, C., Lahuerta-Valls, L., Fernandez-Villegas, V., & Santos-Ruiz, S. (2023). Nursing evaluation of pediatric preoperative anxiety: A qualitative study. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 31, e373. https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.6230.373 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.6230.3737
Jin, Y., Ye, Y., Chen, Z., et al. (2023). Combined intervention of multiple methods to alleviate preoperative anxiety in preschool children undergoing strabismus surgery: A randomized controlled study (Preprint). Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2532492/v1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2532492/v1
Liang, Y., Huang, W., Hu, X., Jiang, M., Liu, T., Yue, H., & Li, X. (2021). Preoperative anxiety in children aged 2–7 years: A cross-sectional analysis of associated risk factors. Translational Pediatrics, 10(8), 2024–2034. https://doi.org/10.21037/tp-21-215 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21037/tp-21-215
Liu, W., Xu, R., Jia, J., Shen, Y., Li, W., & Bo, L. (2022). Research progress on risk factors of preoperative anxiety in children: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(16), 9828. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169828 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169828
Moura, L. A., et al. (2021). Dolor postoperatorio agudo severo autoinformado por niños después de cirugías ambulatorias. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 74(5), e20201279. https://doi.org/10.35366/115319 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35366/115319
Porras-Caballero, F. C., Rosales Sánchez, K. P., Medellín Navarro, D. V., & Sánchez Jáuregui, D. F. (2021). Aplicación de técnicas de relajación en pacientes preoperatorios, hospitalizados y sus cuidadores. Dilemas Contemporáneos: Educación, Política y Valores, 8(1), Article 155. https://doi.org/10.46377/dilemas.v8i.2492 DOI: https://doi.org/10.46377/dilemas.v8i.2492
Quispe Montalvo, I. M., Cóndor Gómez, C. A., & Hinostroza Robles, N. M. (2019). Efectividad del programa “Melodías de cuidar” en el manejo de la ansiedad en usuarios preoperatorios del servicio de cirugía del Hospital Félix Mayorca Soto, Tarma. Revista de Enfermería Vanguard, 8(2), 50–58. https://doi.org/10.35563/revan.v8i2.361 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35563/revan.v8i2.361
Villena Rico, M. (2024). Intervenciones de enfermería para el manejo de la ansiedad preoperatoria en el paciente pediátrico. Enfermería Cuidándote, 7, Article 21. https://doi.org/10.51326/ec.7.7274481 DOI: https://doi.org/10.51326/ec.7.7274481
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 MSc. Emily Chuga
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Eres libre de:
- Compartir : copiar y redistribuir el material en cualquier medio o formato
- Adaptar : remezclar, transformar y desarrollar el material
- El licenciante no puede revocar estas libertades siempre y cuando usted cumpla con los términos de la licencia.
En los siguientes términos:
- Atribución : Debe otorgar el crédito correspondiente , proporcionar un enlace a la licencia e indicar si se realizaron cambios . Puede hacerlo de cualquier manera razonable, pero no de ninguna manera que sugiera que el licenciante lo respalda a usted o a su uso.
- No comercial : no puede utilizar el material con fines comerciales .
- CompartirIgual — Si remezcla, transforma o construye sobre el material, debe distribuir sus contribuciones bajo la misma licencia que el original.
- Sin restricciones adicionales : no puede aplicar términos legales ni medidas tecnológicas que restrinjan legalmente a otros hacer algo que la licencia permite.
