OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between parental anxiety and postoperative pain and complications in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.

METHODS

The level of pain of the child and the pain perceived by the parent were questioned using the Wong-Baker FACES pain grading scale at postoperative 6 hour, 24 hour, 1 week, and 2 weeks. For evaluation of the anxiety status of the parents, the following questionnaires were used: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) and the parent version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS-P). Using the State Anxiety scores, the parents were classified into three groups. The patients were followed up in respect to complications (fever, nausea-vomiting, re-hospitalization, re-operation).

RESULTS

Evaluations were made of 145 patients and their parents. Of the total parents, mild anxiety was determined in 47 (32.4%) (Group 1), moderate anxiety in 70 (48.2%) (Group 2), and severe anxiety in 28 (19.3%) (Group 3). Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between parental anxiety and the pain scores of both the parents and the children. Complications developed in 1 (2.1%) patient in Group 1, in 22 (31.4%) in Group 2, and in 16 (57.1%) in Group 3 (p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study demonstrated that postoperative pain and complications were seen at a higher rate in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy whose parents had a high level of anxiety. Preoperative psychosocial support given to parents could reduce pain and complications to lower levels.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT06579586.