RELAX Anaesthetics
Research type
Research Study
Full title
RELAX Anaesthetics: the effect of a bespoke relaxation app on stress levels in children undergoing anaesthesia
IRAS ID
170170
Contact name
Mark Terry
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
The most distressing part of a parent’s experience in hospital is watching a child undergo intravenous cannulation.1 This is commonly performed in the anaesthetic room prior to induction of anaesthesia. At Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust (CWFT) over 5000 children undergo operations every year. Traditional methods of distracting the child during have included blowing bubbles, storybooks, and a variety of toys and games. These methods are not always effective and may present an infection risk due to inability to clean between uses.
The use of an android/iPad provides a platform for effectively distracting the child with a choice of games, video and music, with the advantage of being cleaned between uses. Users of this platform are required to select the application that is most appropriate for the age, sex, method of anaesthesia, and compliance level of the child. To assist with this, we have developed an application system that will select a range of entertainment applications appropriate for each child based on these four variables and hopefully help to keep children calm before their operations.
This research project will test the effectiveness of the app in reducing anxiety in parents and children, assess whether it leads to an increase in introvenous anaesthetics and look at the cost savings that could be generated.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EM/0039
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion