Study Examines Nurse-Led Card Games to Reduce Preoperative Anxiety in Pediatric Surgical Patients

Researchers at the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine have published findings regarding a non-digital, nurse-led card game designed to mitigate preoperative anxiety in children. The study evaluated whether structured play sessions conducted the evening before surgery could improve patient cooperation during anesthesia induction and reduce postoperative behavioral issues. While the results indicate potential benefits in specific areas, the authors emphasize the need for larger, multicenter trials to confirm these findings and establish broader clinical applicability.

The study highlights a shift toward low-cost, non-digital therapeutic interventions in pediatric settings, contrasting with more expensive digital or virtual reality alternatives. By utilizing trained nursing staff to deliver structured play, healthcare facilities may potentially address the logistical and financial barriers often associated with implementing specialized preoperative preparation programs. The findings suggest that familiarizing children with surgical procedures through games can enhance patient cooperation, which is a critical factor in managing successful anesthesia induction and reducing the risk of maladaptive behavioral responses following surgery. However, the lack of improvement in caregiver anxiety levels indicates that such interventions may need to be paired with additional parental support systems to provide comprehensive care for the entire family unit during the surgical process.

From an industry perspective, this research underscores the ongoing interest in optimizing pediatric hospital workflows through scalable, non-pharmacological methods. As hospitals face increasing pressure to improve patient experience metrics while managing resource constraints, simple, staff-led interventions that require minimal equipment present a viable model for integration into standard care pathways. The reliance on existing nursing staff rather than specialized technical equipment or external vendors suggests a model that could be replicated across different healthcare systems. Future efforts will likely focus on determining the long-term impact of these interventions on patient outcomes and identifying how such programs can be standardized across diverse clinical environments to ensure consistent and measurable results.