Perspectives of Parents and Anesthesia Providers on Minor Undesirable Adverse Events in Pediatric Anesthesia

Abstract

Background: Decreasing the incidence of minor adverse events improves parental satisfaction in pediatric anesthesia. Previous studies have ranked these adverse events from only one perspective (either parents’ or anesthesia personnel’s). Objectives: This study was designed to determine the participants’ rankings of minor adverse events and compare them among parents and anesthesia providers. This study also investigated the correlations between the care priorities and their previous anesthesia experiences. Methods: We conducted a single-center, prospective study on 156 participants. Questionnaires were administered to three groups: Parent group (n, 101), Anesthesiologist group (n, 37), and Postanesthesia care unit nurse (PACU-nurse) group (n, 18). The respondents ranked seven predefined minor adverse events from the most undesirable (“1”) to the least undesirable (“7”). Details of previous anesthesia experiences of themselves and their children were also collected. Results: For the parents, the most important to avoid was pain (average ranking, 2). Whereas the anesthesiologists and PACU-nurses focused more on postoperative behavioral change (average ranking, 1). Sixty-eight percent of the parents with prior postoperative pain rated pain as the most undesirable side effect for their children (OR 3.6 [1.2-11.4]; P=0.027). Conclusions: There was a divergence between the parents’ and the anesthesia personnel’s views on the minor anesthesia adverse events to avoid. The parents’ priorities for their children’s anesthetic care were influenced by their previous experiences, especially those with prior postoperative pain. To improve parental satisfaction, anesthesia providers should know which are the parental expectations and preferences.