Preoperative Educational Videos on Maternal Stress Whose Children Received Congenital Heart Disease Surgery: During COVID-19 Panic

Instructor School of Nursing, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

During COVID-19 panic, we examined if educational digital video disk can reduce maternal uncertainty, anxiety and depression if their children undergo congenital heart disease surgery and when surgical or post-surgical complications occur. Compared to only routine education, adding digital video disk could decrease mothers' uncertainty and anxiety more after education, and until the day of discharge. Compared to only routine education, adding digital video disk could decrease mothers' uncertainty and anxiety more on the discharge day if their child had surgical or post-surgical complications.

Aims and objectives: During COVID-19 panic, we examined if educational digital video disk can reduce maternal uncertainty, anxiety and depression if their children undergo congenital heart disease surgery and when surgical or post-surgical complications occur.

Background: Mothers experience uncertainty, anxiety and depression if their children undergo conditions mentioned above. Such stress would be more during COVID-19 panic. Design: A randomized control-group pretest-posttest design. The CONSORT checklist is used. Methods: During COVID-19 panic, in a teaching hospital, 120 mothers whose children underwent first elective surgery for congenital heart disease were randomly divided into group 1: 60 mothers receiving routine education plus digital video disk before surgery; and group 2: 60 mothers receiving routine education. Between groups, mothers' uncertainty, anxiety and depression levels were compared (1) before education, (2) after education (before surgery) and (3) on the discharge day. Among mothers whose children had surgical or post-surgical complications, the effect of watching the digital video disk on uncertainty, anxiety and depression at discharge day was evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Mothers, whose children underwent first elective cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease
• Mothers should have been the primary caregivers
• Mothers able to communicate effectively, either orally or in writing

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mothers of children with genetic disorders
• Mothers of children with non-cardiac congenital anomalies
• Mothers of children with diseases such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, psychiatric diseases, and * * Mothers of children with chronic lung diseases