Anxiety before children's surgery: encouraging results with important reporting gaps
A review reported favorable anxiety results for several approaches in children awaiting surgery and their caregivers. Unspecified comparison groups and statistical scales limit what readers can conclude.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review reported favorable anxiety results for digital activities and several other approaches before children's surgery. Results differed between children and caregivers: among caregiver digital interventions, only websites or apps reached statistical significance. Because the abstract leaves comparison groups and effect scales unspecified, it cannot show how much anxiety changed or establish which approach works best.
The abstract does not identify control conditions, explain the numerical effect scale, or report participant totals and intervention timing. Evidence was described as scarce for guided imagery, Benson's breathing, and hypnotherapy.
What approaches were reviewed
The review examined approaches without medication, including videos, video glasses, games, music, caregiver presence, and clown therapy. Its question concerned anxiety around surgery in children and adolescents, alongside anxiety in the adults supporting them through that experience.
Separate results for caregivers
Caregiver findings did not simply mirror children's results. The review also reported favorable caregiver findings for traditional games and caregiver presence. Approaches combining several components reached statistical significance only in children, leaving the caregiver result uncertain rather than proving no benefit.
The original publication
Nonpharmacological Interventions to Reduce Anxiety in Paediatric Preoperative Settings: An Updated Umbrella Review and Meta-Analysis.
López-Rodrigo N, Moll-Bertó A, Montoro-Pérez N et al.
J Spec Pediatr Nurs · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40708481
- Record checked
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