Preoperative Anxiety in Pediatric Burn Surgery: Evaluation Using the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale

Objective and methodology: This study aimed to assess the preoperative anxiety status of pediatric burn patients prior to surgery through a prospective observational design with repeated measures conducted at Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital (Hanoi, Vietnam) between January and October 2025. 135 children aged 2 - 10 years (ASA I - II) with TBSA (1 - 15%) undergoing elective debridement or skin grafting under laryngeal mask airway anesthesia were enrolled. Anxiety was measured with the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) at three time points (T1: ward; T2: parental separation; T3: before induction).Results: Mean mYPAS scores significantly increased across time points: 38.37 ± 6.66 at T1, 49.36 ± 8.11 at T2, and 51.23 ± 8.52 at T3. Preschool children (< 72 months) exhibited higher anxiety than school-aged children (≥ 72 months) at all time points (p < 0.05). Children with previous surgical exposure also demonstrated higher anxiety levels compared with those undergoing their first procedure (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Preoperative anxiety was highly prevalent among pediatric burn patients, especially in younger children and those with prior surgical experience. Anxiety levels increased significantly during parental separation and anesthesia induction. These findings emphasize the need for routine assessment using validated behavioral tools such as mYPAS and for implementing age-appropriate anxiety-reduction strategies in perioperative care