PEDIATRICS Vol. 82 No. 1 July 1988, pp. 30-36
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Edwinson, M.
Right arrow Articles by Ekman, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Edwinson, M.
Right arrow Articles by Ekman, R.

Psychologic Preparation Program for Children Undergoing Acute Appendectomy

Marie Edwinson RN1, Einar Arnbjörnsson MD1, and Rolf Ekman MD1

1 From the Departments of Pediatric Surgery and Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden

A psychologic preparation program was developed for use prior to emergency surgery in children. The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific information prior to an emergency operation would reduce anxiety. The effect of the preparation program was evaluated with clinical and laboratory procedures. One group of children who received only general verbal information was compared with another group who received specific information. The subjects were 24 patients and their parents. The children were studied at four different clinical units prior to operation, using the Visual Analogue Scale and pulse rate and blood pressure measurements. Stress hormone levels were measured at three of these clinical units. Visual Analogue Scales were administered to parents three times prior to the child's operation. The results were analyzed for within-group differences from one clinical unit to the next and for between-group differences at the various clinical units. The results indicated less anxiety in the children who received specific information. Catecholamine and beta-endorphin measurements were not greatly different between the groups.

Key Words: preoperative psychologic preparation • appendectomy • surgery • stress • anxiety

Submitted on June 22, 1987




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Pediatr PsycholHome page
R. N. Greenley, R. M. Coakley, G. N. Holmbeck, B. Jandasek, and K. Wills
Condition-Related Knowledge Among Children with Spina Bifida: Longitudinal Changes and Predictors
J. Pediatr. Psychol., September 1, 2006; 31(8): 828 - 839.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin Child Psychol PsychiatryHome page
N. Ross and B. Egan
'What Do I Have to Come Here for, I'm Not Mad?' Children's Perceptions of a Child Guidance Clinic
Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, January 1, 2004; 9(1): 107 - 115.
[Abstract] [PDF]