A few weeks ago, we shared the beautiful and fun initiative of a hospital in Oklahoma, which uses small cars with remote control in which children enter the operating room on wheels. And while we all think it is something very nice, it is really something that has its reason for being.
A recent study has proven that the take children to the operating room in cars with remote control, help reduce their anxiety levels before entering surgery.
Published in the August issue of the British Journal of Anaesthesia, this study analyzed the effectiveness of transporting children in small cars to reduce their fears and anxiety before entering the operating room.
Conducted by researchers from China and the United States together, the study was attended by 108 children whose ages were two to five years, and who were divided into three groups.
The first group was transported to the operating room in the cars with remote control, the second group on a stretcher and without medication, while the third group was taken to the operating room on a stretcher but in addition, they were given midazolam, a medication given to children before performing surgery and whose purpose is to induce sleep, relieve anxiety and avoid any memory of the surgery.
The anxiety levels of the children were measured at different times: one day before the surgery, when getting into the car or the stretcher according to the group they belonged to, when arriving at the waiting area prior to the surgery, at the time they were separated from their parents, when entering the operating room and finally , just before receiving anesthesia.
It was found that children who were in cars with remote control showed significantly lower levels from the moment they got into the car, until they entered the operating room, compared to the anxiety levels of children in the other two groups .
At the time of receiving anesthesia, the children in cars had similar levels of anxiety than those children who received the medication, but they were transported on a stretcher.
Thus, the researchers conclude that "transporting in a remote-controlled car can help reduce or relieve preoperative anxiety in preschoolers, to a degree comparable to midazolam".
This is undoubtedly good news, because not only is the effectiveness of this wonderful initiative proven to help reassure children before a medical procedure, but also, by having the support of a scientific study, we can possibly see replicate in more hospitals on take children in cars with remote control to the operating room.
