Risk factors for anxiety at induction of anesthesia in children: A prospective cohort study

Abstract

Background: In children anxiety at induction of anesthesia is a common and important aspect of the psychological impact of anesthesia and surgery. Previous studies examining risk factors for increased anxiety have found contradictory results. This may be due to using small, or highly selective population samples, or failure to adjust for confounding variables. Results may also be culturally or institutionally specific. The aim of this study was to identify possible risk factors in a large representative cohort of children. Methods: One thousand two hundred fifty children aged 3-12 years were recruited. Anxiety at induction of anesthesia was assessed using the modified Yale preoperative anxie..