PREOPERATIVE PARENTAL ANXIETY

This study attempts to identify the incidence and specific sources of anxiety in the parents of children admitted to hospital for elective s urgery, to isolate factors associated with increased anxiety and to id entify useful ameliorative measures. One hundred parents were intervie wed and completed a questionnaire before their child's surgery. Parent al anxiety levels were measured using the Leeds scale for self-assessm ent of anxiety. Anxiety-related illness was identified in 47% of paren ts, who were significantly more concerned than others about all aspect s of their children's hospitalisation. No factors were identified whic h could predict which parents were at high risk of developing an anxie ty state. When questioned about educational and interventional measure s which they felt would be reassuring, the same factors were identifie d by 'anxious' and 'non-anxious' parents. As all parents agree on usef ul ameliorative factors, a general advice and education programme woul d be appropriate.