Preparing Children for Anesthesia With an Educational Pop-Up Book

Efficacy of an Educational Pop-Up Book in Preparing Children for Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The study evaluated an educational pop-up book about general anesthesia induction as an interactive, child-focused preoperative education resource for pediatric patients undergoing outpatient surgery. The study's objectives were to evaluate the book as an educational tool and to understand the book's effects on patient and caregiver perceptions of the surgical experience. The study's hypotheses were that preoperative education from the pop-up book, compared to standard care, would more effectively reduce children's fear and expected pain, facilitate more positive views of the procedure and preoperative explanations, encourage adaptive coping strategies, reduce behavioral anxiety at anesthesia induction, and increase caregiver satisfaction with the surgical experience.

Inclusion criteria:

• Ages 5-12 (inclusive)
• Undergoing outpatient medical procedures under general anesthesia with inhalation induction
• English-speaking
• Able to provide electronic consent/assent (legal guardian)

Exclusion criteria:

• Patients with severe developmental disabilities
• Unable to obtain electronic consent/assent from a legal guardian