Parents in the anaesthetic room--parents' and anaesthetists' views

Abstract

In this study parents' and anaesthetists' views were compared, by means of questionnaire, to assess the benefit of parental presence at induction. One hundred and ninety four unpremedicated children aged 1-16 years underwent daycase surgery. One hundred and eighty four parents accompanied their child and felt that their child benefited from this. Anaesthetists rated only 72% of parents as being helpful. Parents who had undergone anaesthesia in the past were less likely, 60% compared with 79% (p < 0.01), to consider themselves as upset than parents who had not. Thirty one percent (44/140) of anaesthetists, compared with 43% (60/140) of parents, felt the child was upset at induction (p < 0.01). Parents judging themselves to be upset at induction were significantly more likely to consider their child as upset (p < 0.01). Most parents feel that they are of help in the anaesthetic room regardless of whether or not they find it an upsetting experience. Ninety eight per cent would want to accompany their child in the future and we believe this should be allowed unless there are overriding considerations.