Effect of parental presence on the behaviour of the postoperative preschool age child in the pediatric recovery room

This study examined the effect of parental presence on the behaviour of the postoperative preschool age child in the pediatric recovery room. The immediate postoperative period has been identified as one of the three most stressful periods in a child's hospitalization. Although it has been suggested that parental presence during painful and stressful procedures can reduce anxiety and influence pain perception, review of the literature demonstrated a scarcity of research that describes the effects of parental presence on children's behaviour in areas such as the recovery room. This study therefore contributes to a currently inadequate research base, and thereby enhances the ability of health care professionals to make objective decisions regarding parental presence in the pediatric recovery room. A quasi-experimental design was used to study two groups of ten children between the ages of three and six years immediately following strabismus repair. The behaviour of ten children accompanied by parents and ten children unaccompanied by parents in the Recovery Room was recorded on videotape which was then analyzed for duration and frequency of 26 items on a behavioural checklist. Differences in duration and frequency of behaviours between the two groups were determined using Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance and other descriptive analyses. Findings demonstrated that although children in the two groups displayed the same behaviours, the duration and frequency of certain behaviors varied significantly between groups. Children in the parent-present group made more attempts to cope with the pain experience by crying and complaining with the apparent expectation that their parents would comfort them, whereas children in the parent-absent group made more attempts to cope with the pain experience by trying to reduce the pain themselves through rubbing their eyes and protective behaviour. Thus, it was concluded that the parent1s presence in the pediatric recovery room provides the child with an important additional way of coping effectively with the experience, including pain. Implications for nursing practice and nursing research are described in view of the research findings and recommendations are made regarding the process of implementing parental visiting in pediatric recovery rooms.Applied Science, Faculty ofNursing, School ofGraduat