Children awaiting surgery are relaxed as much by iPad games as they are by sedatives, according to research at a French hospital
Youngsters who played on the tablet computers also experienced a better quality of anaesthesia induction, a report said. The research was expected to be presented overnight to the World Congress of Anaesthesiologists in Hong Kong.
More than 50 children aged between four and 10 were randomly selected to take midazolam, a sedative commonly administered before anaesthetic. Another 58 children were randomly selected to play video games 20 minutes before they were anaesthetised. Children in both groups were operated on.
Two independent psychologists measured the level of anxiety experienced by the children at various stages. Their parents’ anxiety was also measured and the quality of anaesthesia was rated by nurses.
Parents of children who played iPad games before surgery reported the same levels of anxiety as those who were given sedatives. Parents and nurses were more satisfied with the quality of their child’s experience overall, researchers at Hopital Femme Mere Enfant, in Bron, found.
A separate study showed that games helped to reduce the anxiety of young patients separated from their parents.
[Source:-The Australian]
