Comparison of preanesthesia visits using video animation with verbal communication versus verbal communication alone on preoperative anxiety in pediatric patients: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Non-pharmacological interventions have gained increasing recognition as preoperative educational tools aim at reducing preoperative anxiety (PA) in pediatric patients and minimizing the potential adverse effects of pharmacologic interventions. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of using video animation combined with verbal communication versus verbal communication alone during the preanesthesia visit on PA in pediatric patients. Methods: A prospective, randomized, single-blinded, controlled trial was conducted in seventy patients aged 6-12 years scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia. During the preanesthesia visit, participants were randomly assigned to either Group VC (n=35), receiving video animation combined with verbal communication, or Group C (n=35), receiving verbal communication alone. On the day of surgery, participant's PA levels were assessed using the Thai-version of the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YPAS) in the holding area and upon arrival in the operating room. Parental satisfaction was also evaluated. Results: . 28.3 (26.7, 36.7), P=0.26]. Upon arrival in the operating room, the median m-YPAS score in Group VC [28.3 (23.3, 36.7)] was lower than that in Group C [31.7 (28.3, 41.7)]; however, this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.52). Parental satisfaction was high in both groups. Conclusions: Although statistical significance was not achieved, video animation combined with verbal communication showed a trend toward reducing PA and enhancing parental satisfaction, supporting its potential value as a non-pharmacological education tool for pediatric perioperative care. Trial Registration: This study was registered at the Thai Clinical Trial Registry (TCTR20221111005).