This paper aims to present a study that assessed the effects of psychological preparation on pre-surgical stress in children undergoing elective surgery, using two separate programs of preparation. The research was conducted with 30 participants, divided into two groups, users of a children's hospital and it used the Child Stress Scale (ESI). There were three distinct stages: a) Implementation of ESI before preparation, the day before the surgery, b) the preparation itself, in both groups submitted to different programs of preparation, and c) a reapplication of ESI, after preparation. The results showed that significant reduction in the level of stress after preparation, although there was no significant difference on the type of program used. There are practical implications for the psychological attendance of children in pre-surgical situation and limitations to consider when researching this area of pediatric psychology.
Psychological preparation; pre-surgical stress; surgery in childhood
