Introduction: Information given to the parents of paediatric patients during the preanaesthetic consultation (CS) must be understandable.
Objective: We have studied the impact of this information given during CS.
Methods: Prospective study over four months with a questionnaire completed by parents after CS and before the hospitalization. The Sfar information booklet was given to the parents before CS. The study evaluated whether the information had been given ("have you received the information on...?"), understood ("Did you understand...?"), and if CS had influenced anxiety of parents/child; on four items of information, anesthetic risk, transfusion, postoperative pain, and anesthetic technique. The questionnaire noted also the parents sociocultural level (NSC), and if they had read the Sfar booklet. Statistical analysis (descriptive, uni-, multivariate), p<0.05.
Results: Four hundred questionnaires were distributed, 334 were analyzed. The information on the four items was considered to have been given in 75%, understood 72%, and to have diminished anxiety 68%. These results were not influenced by whether or not (88%) parents had read the Sfar booklet. How much information was given was a function of the physician giving the information. Elevated NSC and amount if information given improved comprehension optimized. Diminution of anxiety was when all four items were understood, CS was performed by a senior physician and the parent's NSC was high.
Discussion: Information better adapted to NSC may improve the quality of CS. The Sfar booklet does not contribute to parents understanding in this context.