Effect of Pre-endoscopy Preparation Program on Children's Anxiety and Parental Satisfaction: A Clinical Trial Study

Background: Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a useful diagnostic method in children. The level of anxiety in children is one of the important factors on the patient's acceptance of endoscopy.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a pre-endoscopy preparation program on children's anxiety and parental satisfaction.Method: This clinical trial study investigated ۷۶ children aged ۶ to ۱۸ years and their parents referred to the endoscopy unit of Besat Hospital, Hamadan, Iran, in ۲۰۱۹. The patients were randomly assigned into two equal groups. The experimental group was trained using pamphlets and face-to-face training before endoscopy, and then the two groups were compared in terms of children's anxiety and parental satisfaction. The data were collected using the Demographic Information Questionnaire, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Parental Satisfaction Questionnaire.Results: Before the intervention, the mean±SD values of the state anxiety in the experimental and control groups were ۴۸.۹۲±۲.۸۱ and ۴۹.۱۸±۲.۸۶, respectively, and it was statistically lower in the experimental group (P=۰.۰۴۲). Moreover, after the intervention, the mean±SD values of the trait anxiety in the experimental and control groups were ۴۸.۴۷±۳۱.۱۰ and ۴۹.۸۶±۲.۸۷, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P=۰.۳۳۹). Parents' satisfaction in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group, which was statistically significant (P<۰.۰۰۱).Implications for Practice: The pre-endoscopy preparation program reduced the anxiety of the children. Findings can be utilized in planning to improve their parents' satisfaction.