Information Needs and Influencing Factors of Accompanying Family Members of Children in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit during Recovery

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the information needs of accompanying family members during the pediatric post-anesthesia recovery period and to analyze the factors influencing these needs, thereby providing a baseline for optimizing perioperative nursing management.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was developed, encompassing demographic data of the children and their caregivers, as well as specific information needs related to the recovery period (e.g., Post-Anesthesia Care Unit [PACU] policies, location, and vital signs). A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 217 family members of children undergoing general anesthesia at our center from October 2023 to April 2024.

Results: Caregivers demonstrated a high demand for information regarding anesthesia recovery, with all items scoring >4 on a 5-point Likert scale. The highest-rated need was "understanding possible complications during recovery" (4.65±0.60), while "location of the PACU" received the lowest score (4.36±0.92). Multiple linear regression analysis identified the caregiver's living arrangement with the child, the child's age, and whether it was the child's first experience with general anesthesia as significant influencing factors (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Family members have substantial information needs during the pediatric anesthesia recovery period. Targeted guidance and proactive communication are essential to enhance caregivers' coping strategies and provide robust family support for the child's recovery.