Introduction
For children facing surgery, the preoperative period can be a significant source of anxiety for both them and their parents. Hospitals are exploring various methods to alleviate this stress, and a recent study has highlighted a surprisingly effective and child-friendly approach: using ride-on toy cars for transport. This research delves into how these “Car And Toy” interventions compare to traditional methods, such as sedative premedication, in reducing anxiety levels in young patients undergoing surgery.
Study Methodology: Toy Cars vs. Traditional Transport
This prospective study focused on 108 children aged 2-5 years old with congenital heart disease, all scheduled for their first surgical correction. The children were divided into three groups to compare different transportation methods before surgery. One group, designated as Group C, experienced transport in a children’s ride-on car – effectively turning the journey to the operating room into playtime with a “car and toy”. The second group, Group G, was transported on a standard hospital gurney without any premedication. The final group, Group M, also used a gurney but received oral midazolam, a common sedative, at a dose of 0.5 mg kg-1 before transport. Anxiety levels were meticulously assessed using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale-Short Form and parent-reported anxiety Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at multiple points: the day before surgery, upon entering the ride-on car or gurney in the ward, upon arrival in the preoperative holding area, at parental separation, upon entering the operating room, and just before anesthesia induction.
Key Findings: The Impact of “Car and Toy” Transportation
The results were compelling. Children in Group C, who were transported using the “car and toy” ride-on cars, demonstrated significantly lower anxiety levels from the moment they entered the car all the way until they entered the operating room. This reduction in anxiety was statistically significant (P<0.001) when compared to both Group G (gurney only) and Group M (gurney with midazolam) at these critical points. Remarkably, when anxiety levels were measured just before anesthesia induction, Group C, the “car and toy” group, exhibited anxiety levels that were statistically similar to Group M (P=0.914), the group that received sedative premedication. This suggests that transport in a ride-on toy car is as effective as midazolam in alleviating anxiety right before anesthesia.
Conclusion: Toy Cars as a Viable Alternative for Anxiety Reduction
This study provides strong evidence that using ride-on toy cars as a mode of transport for preschool children undergoing surgery can significantly reduce preoperative anxiety. The findings indicate that this playful “car and toy” intervention is not only effective from a clinical perspective but also offers a non-pharmacological and child-friendly alternative to sedative premedication. For hospitals and pediatric care facilities, incorporating ride-on toy cars could be a valuable strategy to create a less stressful and more positive experience for young patients and their families facing surgery.
Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR-IOR-17012791.
