Parental presence during induction of anesthesia in children: a study on parental attitudes and children's cooperation

Abstract

Parental attitudes and children's cooperation towards parental presence during induction of anesthesia (PPIA) were studied in one hundred parents and one hundred children aged 1-10 years. The dimensions of parental attitudes were how much PPIA is beneficial or harmful to their child, whether their presence could help the anesthetist, whether the parents should be present and their feelings during induction of anesthesia. Before and after induction of anesthesia respectively, 83 per cent and 87 per cent of the parents thought their presence was mostly beneficial to their child, 77 per cent and 83 per cent thought their presence was least harmful, 64 per cent and 71 per cent believed their presence could help the anesthetist and 97 per cent of the parents agreed that parents should be present during induction of anaesthesia. From the children, perspective, 86 per cent of the children cooperated with induction. It was concluded that PPIA was well accepted by the parents and the majority of the children were cooperative.