Study (authors, year), country

Study design

Participants N, age

Surgery types

Video distraction intervention

Intervention details

Patel et al. (2006), USA

RCT

N = 112, 4 - 12 years

Outpatient surgery with general anesthesia

Playing a video game (active distraction)

The children selected a video game to play within the holding area. The children began to play the game via hand held tablet at least 20 minutes before anesthesia and they were allowed to continue playing during anesthesia induction.

Lee et a., (2012), South Korea

RCT

N = 130, 3 - 7 years

First time Elective surgery with general anesthesia (eye surgery, tonsillectomy, herniorrhaphy hand surgery)

Watching cartoon film (passive distraction)

The children selected a film in the holding area and they watched it (via tablet or notebook) until they fell in sleep after anesthesia induction.

Mifflin et al., (2012), USA

RCT

N = 89, 2 - 10 years

First time Ambulatory surgery with general anesthesia (ear, nose and throat, urology surgery, dentistry and general surgeries)

Watching a cartoon film (passive distraction)

The children selected a video clip that they usually enjoy watching and it was viewed for them to watch during anesthesia induction via large screens in the OR.

Kerimoglu et al., (2013), USA

RCT

N = 96, 4 - 9 years

Outpatient surgery with general anesthesia

Watching a television program (passive distraction)

The children selected an age appropriate television program and it was viewed for them through a video glass in the holding area and throughout anesthesia induction.

Seiden et al., (2014), USA

Non inferiority randomized trial

N = 108,1 - 11 years

Outpatient surgeries with general anesthesia

Playing interactive video game (active distraction)

The children selected an age appropriate video game in the holding area. The tablet was returned to the child to play the selected game at the time of parental separation and they continued playing during anesthesia induction.

Kim et al., (2015), South Korea

RCT

N = 117, 2 - 7 years

Elective minor surgery with general anesthesia (eye surgery, tonsillectomy, herniorrhaphy, neck mass excision

Watching a cartoon film (passive distraction)

The children selected their preferred film and started to watch it in the holding area (via smartphone). They continued to watch the video during anesthesia induction.

Sola et al., (2017), France

RCT

N = 135, 2 - 12 years

Ambulatory surgery with general anesthesia

Watching a cartoon film (passive distraction)

The children selected an age appropriate cartoon film and began to watch it 30 minutes before anesthesia through a DVD player. The children continued the film watching until they fell asleep from anesthesia.

Marechal et al., (2017); France

RCT

N = 118, 4 - 11 years

Ambulatory surgery with general anesthesia for minor surgeries

Playing a video game (active distraction)

The children were allowed to select their preferred video game to play via electronic iPad. They began to play in the holding area 20 minutes before anesthesia and they were allowed to continue playing until they lost their consciousness during anesthesia induction.