Effect of Short-term Deep Breathing Exercises on Perioperative Anxiety and Pain in Pediatric Orthopedic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose

There are currently no pediatric studies examining the effects of deep breathing on perioperative pain and anxiety. This study sought to determine the effect of short-term deep breathing exercises on perioperative anxiety and pain in pediatric patients and their parents.

Design

A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery where pediatric patients about to undergo surgery were allocated to a control group or a deep breathing group. In the intervention group, patients and their main guardian were guided to practice 10 minutes of deep breathing exercises twice a day for 3 to 4 days prior to surgery. Perioperative anxiety and pain were measured for both the children and parents as outcome indicators.

Methods

Perioperative anxiety was measured using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale-Short Form (mYPAS-SF) and state anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Patients reported their pain levels daily using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. The following cutoffs were determined as high levels of anxiety: STAI (adult) > 44, STAI (child) > 36, and mYPAS-SF ≥ 30.

Findings

No significant differences were found in the STAI, mYPAS-SF, and Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale scores of the patients between the intervention and control group. Overall statistics showed that parents had significantly higher postoperative state anxiety levels toward female children (44.93 ± 9.01) compared to male children (40.18 ± 9.89). Preoperative and postoperative parental state anxiety levels were correlated with the child’s postoperative anxiety. Furthermore, children’s postoperative state anxiety was slightly correlated with postoperative pain.

Conclusions

Short-term use of our deep breathing exercises was ineffective in reducing incidences of perioperative pain and anxiety in pediatric orthopedic patients. A longer period of deep breathing administration may be required for the intervention to be effective. Parental anxiety may have an effect on anxiety levels in children, and postoperative parental anxiety may be affected by the gender of the child.