Threat perception, anxiety and noncompliance with preoperative fasting instructions among mothers of children attending elective same day surgery

Purpose The current study examined possible links between threat perception, anxiety, conscientiousness and parental noncompliance with preoperative fasting instructions for their children. Methods 100 mothers of children about to undergo an ambulatory elective surgery were divided to two equal groups based on compliance/noncompliance with pre surgery fasting requirements. Logistic regression analysis was preformed to predict compliance/noncompliance. In addition a logistic model estimating the effect of anxiety and conscientiousness levels, and their interaction, on the probability of fasting was performed. Results Mothers who did not comply with fasting requirements perceived the procedure as more threatening, were more anxious and had lower conscientiousness levels. Additionally, mother's anxiety prior to surgery mediated the association between mothers' threat perception and compliance. Finally, conscientiousness moderated the anxiety and compliance association so that high conscientiousness levels reduced the effect of anxiety, elevating the likelihood of anxious mothers to comply with fasting guidelines. Conclusions Based on these findings we recommend medical staff to make significant efforts to identify highly anxious parents as early as possible during the preoperative process. Innovative assessment and intervention tools should be developed in order to conduct a smooth medical operation and reduce the chance of unnecessary and costly surgery cancelation.