Parental presence during pediatric anesthesia induction.

Children undergoing a surgical intervention may experience anxiety before anesthesia induction. This article reviews six research studies that examined the efficacy of parental presence during the induction of anesthesia. Study researchers compared the premedication midazolam, behavioral distraction, and parental presence as measures to lessen anxiety during anesthesia induction. The reviewed articles indicate that parental presence alone is the least effective means of decreasing a child's anxiety during the induction of anesthesia.