TITLE:
Psychological Preparation of Children for Surgery: Awareness Survey Targeting Medical Professionals
AUTHORS:
Naomi Matsumori
KEYWORDS:
The Awareness, Psychological Preparation, Children Undergoing Surgery, Physicians and Nurses in Japan
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.4 No.7,
June
20,
2014
ABSTRACT:
The objective of
this study was to conduct a nation-wide survey to investigate the state of: 1)
the prevalence of psychological preparation of children undergoing surgery; and
2) the awareness of psychological preparation of children by medical
professionals (physicians and nurses). We also aimed to identify the issues
that need to be addressed next. A total of 178 physicians and 291 nurses
working in hospitals where children undergo surgeries participated in this
study. Anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey. Physicians and nurses
in Japan are aware of the need to provide age-appropriate psychological
preparation for children undergoing medical procedures. In current practice,
however, our study revealed that surgical orientations are given solely to
parents in the absence of the child in approximately 30% of cases. While
approximately 60% of respondents felt that the uses of “children’s picture
books and booklets” are good methods for delivering explanations to children,
only about 20% of respondents were implementing psychological preparation
specific to each age group, and half of the respondents were providing verbal
explanations alone. Meanwhile, 77% responded that it is “time-consuming” and
48% said, “on the contrary, it may heighten their anxiety”. Also 34.3% said
that they “do not know how to explain to a child” and 54.8% of these medical
professionals worked in mixed wards. We observed a gap between ideal requirements
and current practices. We found that it is essential to: 1) organize training
sessions for knowledge acquisition; 2) consciously strive to be informed of the
actual post-surgery conditions and outcomes of the children; and 3) acquire
physical and financial support.