The Impact of an Animated Video on Preoperative Anxiety in Children Undergoing Elective Otoplasty

Exploring the Effects of an Informative Animated Video on Preoperative Anxiety in Children Undergoing Elective Otoplasty and Their Parents

The study is a prospective, randomized, single-blind controlled superiority trial to evaluate the effect of viewing an informative animated video a day prior to surgery on preoperative anxiety in pediatric patients scheduled for elective otoplasty. The primary outcome will be modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) score at the time of general anesthesia induction compared between families that were assigned to view the animated video the day before and those that were not. The participants for this study will be children undergoing elective otoplasty at the IWK Health Centre. Those participants randomized to the intervention group will receive a link to a short survey gauging parent anxiety levels. The survey will be followed by a link to an informative animated video which the participants and their families will watch. The control group will be participants assigned not to receive the email link to the informative animated video.

Inclusion Criteria:

• They are undergoing an otoplasty alone with no other procedures on the same day
• The patient must not have previously undergone an otoplasty; the patient must be between the ages of 4 and 12;
• The patient must understand spoken English;
• The participating parent must be able to read English at a grade six level; and the patient should not have received premedication.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Under the age of 4 or over the age of 12
• Have not undergone a previous otoplasty