The representation of anaesthesia in children's literature.

Hospital admission for an operation can be a frightening and bewildering experience for a child. Effective communication is a prerequisite for all those who anaesthetise children, and good pre-operative preparation reduces anxiety and improves the child's ability to cope. Books are familiar to children and their use in providing information is an established practice in paediatric nursing. By searching web-based bookshops, we identified 19 books whose subject was admission to hospital for an operation. These books were analysed according to the accuracy of their description of the anaesthetic element of the surgical experience. Seven of these books can be recommended as useful descriptions of the key elements involved in general anaesthesia. These books provide a simple, effective and cheap resource to help children and their parents prepare for anaesthesia. They may also provide a useful tool for trainee anaesthetists by giving an insight into the child's level of understanding.