Effect of Pre-Operative Psycho-educational Interventions on Anxiety and Pain in Children Undergoing Tonsillectomy in Shiraz Southern Iran

Background: Excessive anxiety and stress can affect children’s physical and psychological health, hinder their ability to cope with surgery, encourage their negative behavior in association with health care, and may also inhibit their post-operative recovery. This study was conducted to determine the effects of pre-operative psychoeducational interventions on post-operative anxiety and pain in children undergoing Day- Case tonsillectomy. Methods: A quasi–experimental pre-post test follow up control group design was used for 199 children aged 9 to 12 years old who were admitted for Day-Case tonsillectomy unit, along with their parents during a 12-month period. In a randomized method, 100 children were divided into the experimental group receiving psychoeducational interventions, and 99 children who were assigned to the control group receiving routine information preparation. The anxiety level of children was measured using children Speilberger State Anxiety Inventory (SSAI) and the post-operative pain level of the children was assessed by using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: The children in the experimental group reported lower state anxiety scores in 4-time points of postoperative periods. There was no difference in children’s post-operative pain between the two groups. Conclusion: The study provides empirical evidence in support of the effectiveness of using psycho-educational interventions for preparation of children for surgery.