Journal of paediatrics and child health
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J Paediatr Child Health · Feb 1996
Clinical TrialReducing the anxiety of children undergoing surgery: parental presence during anaesthetic induction.
The primary aim was to determine whether child anxiety could be reduced by the presence of a parent during anaesthetic induction. Secondary aims involved clarification of the effect of the timing of parental separation, the use of premedication, the seriousness of the surgical procedure, and the flow-on effect of parental anxiety on the level of child anxiety. ⋯ It was concluded that there are benefits in allowing parents to be present during anaesthetic induction. However, the potential negative effect of parental anxiety must be acknowledged before parents are allowed to accompany their child as a matter of course.