Nursing Interventions to Reduce Pre-Operative Anxiety in Children: A Literature Review

Abstract

Preoperative anxiety in children is a highly prevalent psychological condition encountered in perioperative nursing practice, with reported prevalence rates ranging from 60 to 90 percent among pediatric surgical patients. This condition not only produces short-term psychological distress but also contributes to increased anesthetic requirements, impaired postoperative recovery, and prolonged hospitalization. This study aimed to identify, analyze, and synthesize nursing interventions proven effective in reducing preoperative anxiety among pediatric patients based on current scientific literature. A library research method was employed using a thematic analysis approach applied to ten peer-reviewed articles published between 2021 and 2026, retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Portal Garuda databases. Findings revealed that non-pharmacological interventions including distraction techniques, music therapy, hand massage, guided imagery, family-centered education, therapeutic play, and parental presence during anesthesia induction significantly reduced preoperative anxiety levels in children. Distraction techniques demonstrated effectiveness comparable to or superior over pharmacological premedication such as midazolam. Nurses were identified as the primary professionals administering these interventions, holding a strategic role in perioperative anxiety management. This review concludes that the systematic integration of evidence-based nursing interventions into perioperative care standards for pediatric patients is a crucial step toward improving the quality and safety of pediatric surgical services.