Improving the Perioperative Experience of Patients and Families in a Pediatric Setting

Abstract

Practice Problem: The experience of surgery for pediatric patients and their families can be dependent on multiple factors including adequate preparation, English language proficiency and realistic expectations. Anxiety can contribute to a negative experience that may result in poor outcomes and a damaging reflection of the healthcare team and organization. PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In preoperative pediatric patients and their families, how do therapeutic communication style and the provision of information about the perioperative experience affect their healthcare experience over eight weeks? Evidence: A multi-modal approach to providing tailored preoperative education for the child and the parent can improve their perioperative experience. The practice of sitting with patient has demonstrated improved satisfaction scores by enhancing therapeutic communication, enabling active listening and improving trust between clinicians and patients. Intervention: A bundle to improve pediatric perioperative patient’s experience included the provision of a five minute, animated, educational video offered in English and Spanish and implementing sitting between clinicians and patients and families during all interactions. Outcome: An analysis of the patient experience data reflected a decreased gap between the experiences of the English and Spanish language groups that was statistically significant. Clinical significance was demonstrated by qualitative data regarding enhanced communication from patients during the implementation period. Conclusion: This project successfully addressed the health disparities that are prevalent for pediatric perioperative patients and families and closed the gap of experience between English and Spanish language preferred groups.