An evaluation of a preoperative virtual tour for parents and children

Research
By Jocelyne Tourigny, Julie Chartrand
English

A Canadian pediatric center offers a preoperative virtual tour on its website. This tour was evaluated by a descriptive study, in terms of its utilization, effectiveness, and usefulness. The tour was utilized by 49.6 percent of the 123 families. Children of these families displayed a significant increase in knowledge from Time 1 (preop clinic) to Time 2 (day of surgery). Children and young adults who did not use the tour reported themselves as more anxious on the day of surgery, but not significantly. There was no significant change for the parents. The internet is a useful tool for preparing families but cannot replace direct interaction. Further research is required in order to evaluate the impact of this type of preparation on the quality of care and on the child’s recovery.

Keywords

  • virtual tour
  • surgery
  • children
  • parents
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