The impact of parental presence on parental anxiety and satisfaction.

Researchers used an experimental research design to vary the amount of parental presence during their children's anesthesia induction and recovery and measured the effect of parental presence on parental anxiety and satisfaction with care. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to assess parental anxiety. The researchers measured parents' blood pressures and pulse rates as a second measure of anxiety. They found no significant differences in parental anxiety between study groups (i.e., the parents attending during their children's anesthesia induction and recovery, the parents not attending) but observed significant differences between mothers and fathers. Overall satisfaction scores were high, with little variability and no significant differences between study groups. Parents and physicians and nursing staff members supported the practice of parental presence during children's anesthesia induction and immediate postoperative recovery period.