Date of this Version
12-3-2024
Document Type
DNP Project
Rights
default
Abstract
Background: Preoperative pediatric anxiety is a significant concern for anesthesia providers because it affects the majority of children undergoing surgical procedures. Preoperative pediatric anxiety leads to adverse outcomes such as delayed recovery, increased postoperative delirium, heightened pain, prolonged hospital stays, and increased surgical morbidity. Traditional methods to manage this anxiety, including sedatives, educational techniques, parental presence, and child specialists, often yield inconsistent results and can introduce additional complications. New research demonstrated AV techniques to be more effective, easily accessible, and cost-effective when compared to other alternatives.
Method: The purpose of this quality improvement project is to assess and enhance anesthesia provider knowledge and perspectives towards the utilization of audiovisual technology in the pediatric preoperative setting. The methodology was to implement an online educational module for anesthesia providers on the impact of pediatric anxiety and how the application of AV technology can be utilized to manage anxiety. Qualtrics surveys administered before and after the educational module was utilized to assess the effectiveness. Data was gathered through anonymous online surveys on Qualtrics. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic information, and paired-sample t-tests were conducted to compare pre- and post-test scores, evaluating changes in knowledge and attitudes. The project followed ethical guidelines, including IRB approval, informed consent, and strict data security protocols.
Results: The results of the Qualtrics survey showed an increase in knowledge and positive attitudes on the utilization of AV technology as a non-pharmacological option to reduce pediatric preoperative anxiety. The average correct response rate on the pediatric preoperative anxiety knowledge test increased from 45.83% pre-test to 83.33% post-test. Knowledge on midazolam and AV distraction use saw a smaller increase from 75% to 81.25%, likely due to one question receiving all correct answers in both tests. The percentage of anesthesia providers willing to incorporate AV technology in their preoperative practice rose from 62.5% pre-test to 100% post-test.
Discussion: This project demonstrated that an educational module effectively increased knowledge on AV technology for managing preoperative anxiety. Despite limitations, including a small sample size and restriction to a single hospital, the findings indicate a notable increase in healthcare providers’ willingness to adopt the utilization of AV technology in preoperative care of pediatric patients. The anticipated outcome is the establishment of AV technology as a standard practice in pediatric preoperative care to improve the quality of surgical experiences and outcomes for pediatric patients.
Recommended Citation
May, Katherine; Alfonso, Fernando; and Salgado, Alexis, "An Educational Module on the Utilization of Audiovisual Technology to Reduce Preoperative Anxiety in Pediatric Surgical Patients" (2024). Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects. 312.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cnhs-studentprojects/312
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