Research Information System
Pediatric Surgery International, vol.42, no.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Purpose: Preoperative anxiety is common in children and can lead to negative outcomes. Distraction methods are effective in reducing preoperative anxiety. This study investigated the effect of using an electric ride-on car as a distraction method during transportation to the operating room in children undergoing elective ambulatory surgery. Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted between May 2, 2023 and February 15, 2024 in the pediatric surgery ward and operating room of a training and research hospital in Türkiye. A total of 118 children aged 2–10 years scheduled for elective surgery participated. The intervention group (n = 59) was transported in an electric ride-on car, while the control group (n = 59) used a standard stretcher. Data were collected using the “Sociodemographic and Descriptive Information Form,” the “modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Score-Short Form (mYPAS-SF)” for children, and the “State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)” for parents. The mYPAS-SF was completed by the investigator 30 min before surgery and immediately before the anesthesia mask was introduced. The STAI was completed by the parent in the patient’s room before surgery. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS 22 using descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi-Square, and t-test. Results: There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in mYPAS-SF scores measured during the preoperative waiting period (p > 0.05). A significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups in mYPAS-SF scores before the anesthesia induction (51.27 ± 21.09 vs. 61.93 ± 22.96, t= – 2.627 p = 0.010). Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was found that this distraction method was effective in reducing preoperative anxiety in children undergoing elective ambulatory surgery. Utilizing age-appropriate and innovative distraction methods in pediatric surgery may enhance patient experience and reduce distress. Pediatric surgical nurses are encouraged to adopt this approach. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT06303843.