• T Voepel-Lewis, A R Tait, and S Malviya.
• Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, USA.
• J. Perianesth. Nurs. 2000 Feb 1; 15 (1): 6-11.

AbstractIn busy surgical outpatient settings, it is important to quickly yet thoroughly assess a child's preoperative needs to determine whether a premedication or perhaps a parent's presence is warranted to facilitate a smooth anesthetic induction. This observational study of 252 children evaluated factors related to separation and induction behaviors of children. Six percent of children had difficulty separating from their parents, and 22% were uncooperative with induction of general anesthesia via face mask. Logistic regression showed that parent prediction was the best indicator of separation behavior, whereas younger age and separation behavior were both predictive of induction behavior. Findings suggest that parents are good predictors of their child's preoperative behaviors and may, therefore, provide valuable input when perioperative nurses and anesthesiologists are making decisions about potential preoperative interventions.

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