This prospective observational study aims to evaluate whether daily screen exposure duration is associated with preoperative anxiety levels in children aged 2-5 years undergoing elective surgery.
Screen exposure in early childhood has been associated with emotional and behavioral outcomes, including increased anxiety. However, its potential impact on anxiety in acute stress situations such as surgery has not been previously investigated. Preoperative anxiety in children is associated with difficult anesthetic induction, increased postoperative agitation, prolonged recovery, and behavioral disturbances.
In this study, parents will complete a structured questionnaire assessing their child's daily screen exposure duration and related factors. Children will be categorized into three groups according to reported daily screen time: less than 1 hour per day, 1-2 hours per day, and more than 2 hours per day.
Preoperative anxiety will be assessed immediately before anesthesia induction using the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS), a validated observational tool for measuring anxiety in young children.
No additional medical interventions will be performed beyond routine clinical care. The study seeks to determine whether higher screen exposure is associated with increased preoperative anxiety levels and to identify potential risk factors contributing to anxiety in preschool children undergoing surgery.
Children aged 2 to 5 years
Scheduled for elective surgical procedures under general anesthesia
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III
Parent or legal guardian able to provide written informed consent
Premedication administered or planned prior to anxiety assessment
Emergency surgical procedures
Known developmental delay or neurodevelopmental disorder
Known psychiatric disorder