[Effects of a preoperative educational intervention on the behavior of parents of three to six-year old children having day surgery].

This quasi-experimental study assessed the effects of an intervention with the parents of children aged 3-6 at 2 weeks before the child's admission for day surgery. It entailed providing the parents with an educational booklet embodying the learning theories of Gagné and of Bandura. The 150-parent sampling was randomized into 2 experimental groups (receiving the educational booklet) and 1 control group (receiving only an information leaflet). Their behaviour was observed by means of video camera at various times on the day of surgery. In addition, the subjects themselves (usually the mother) assessed their level of anxiety. The parents in the experimental groups displayed greater competence on the day of surgery, and reported less anxiety, than did the control subjects. The study underscores the effectiveness of an educational approach favouring the use of family-targeted instructional material. It also shows that parents are able to use the information they receive to effectively prepare their tots for day surgery. The implications for research and clinical practice are examined from the vantage points of benefits to parents, child, and nursing staff and implementation of new ambulatory-care strategies.