Audiovisual Interactive Games to Alleviate Pediatric Perioperative Anxiety

Pediatric anxiety upon induction of anesthesia is widely prevalent and can lead to negative patient psychological impact and hindrance to induction of anesthesia. Historically, premedication has been used as one means to improve pediatric preoperative anxiety and cooperation with induction. However, giving medication to children prior to surgery has drawbacks. Thus, other means have been proposed that may have similar benefits but fewer or different drawbacks. Recently, audiovisual distraction in the form of interactive games has been proposed. Such games have been in use at children's hospitals around the United States for more than five years. This study is a randomized trial that will explore using interactive games to improve pediatric perioperative anxiety in elective surgery compared with standard-of-care not including games. Perioperative anxiety with be evaluated using an observational scale.