The introduction of a paediatric anaesthesia information leaflet: an audit of its impact on parental anxiety and satisfaction

Background: A paediatric anaesthesia information leaflet was produced to address preoperative parental anxiety and to facilitate informed parental consent. Methods: An audit was undertaken to assess the impact of introducing the leaflet. This addressed the information needs and expectations of parents of children undergoing anaesthesia, parental satisfaction with information provision and parental preoperative anxiety. Results: The audit revealed that parents expect to be provided with information, although not necessarily in written form. However, the majority who received the information leaflet concluded that verbal information alone would not have been sufficient. The information leaflet was found to be accessible, informative and useful and those who received it reported greater satisfaction with information provision than a control group. Many parents perceived that it resulted in lower levels of preoperative anxiety. Conclusions: A decision was therefore undertaken that routine use of the leaflet would continue on all of the paediatric surgical wards. However, the study also indicated that leaflets should not replace verbal communication with nursing and medical staff, who remain important sources of information.