[Children's anxiety is reduced by the presence of parents at induction of anesthesia].

The present study aims to examine if children's anxiety could be reduced by the presence of the parent at induction of anesthesia. The subjects were children aged from 6 months to 6 years who underwent general anesthesia. Forty children (Group A) received premedication and without the parent at induction of anesthesia. Thirty-eight children (Group B) received premedication and with the parent. Thirty-eight children (Group C) did not receive premedication and were with the parent. We examined whether children were crying or not during anesthetic induction. Number of crying children accompanied by the parent during induction were fewer than those who were not accompanied. We conclude that allowing the parent to be present during anesthetic induction reduces the number of crying children and we consider that the presence of the parent decreased the children's anxiety.