Does Distraction With a Hand Held Video Game Reduce Preoperative and Emergence Anxiety in Children?

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Pediatric Emergence Agitation and Pain

In brief

Preoperative anxiety is characterized by subjective feelings of tension, apprehension, nervousness and worry. In children, preoperative anxiety is reported to result in postoperative negative psychological effects, including nightmares, eating problems and increased fear of doctors. Previous studies have assessed anxiety in children during the preoperative period and the effects of premedication and parental presence. Midazolzam has been shown to reduce preoperative anxiety in children but post operative recovery maybe delayed for children undergoing a short operative procedure. Distraction may be particularly helpful in children ages 6-12 as these children are curious about their environment. An association between preoperative anxiety and emergence agitation has been suggested. Emergence agitation in children is not well understood but is a frightening experience for child and parent. A previous study demonstrated the efficacy of hand held video games used as an interactive distraction to allay preoperative anxiety. The purpose of this study is to treat preop anxiety with premedication, or video game and to evaluate the impact of these interventions on the incidence and severity of emergence agitation.

Key facts

Study ID
NCT00932685
Run by
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
People needed
119
Starts
2005-12-01
Expected to finish
2007-07-01
Last updated by the study team
2009-07-03

Who can join

Age: 4 and older, up to 12. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

You may not qualify if…

Where it is running

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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