Home-Initiated-Programme-to-Prepare-for-Operation: evaluating the effect of an animation video on peri-operative anxiety in children: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Hospital admissions and surgical operations commonly trigger anxiety in young children. Despite employing numerous support measures in our hospital, such as a pre-operative play room, the encouragement of parental companionship during induction of anaesthesia and distraction therapy, allaying the anxiety of our young surgical patients remains a challenge.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a Home-Initiated-Programme-to-Prepare-for-Operation (HIPPO) on emotional manifestation and anxiety in children undergoing surgery.