3‐D Storybook: Effects on Surgical Knowledge and Anxiety Among Four‐ to Six‐Year‐Old Surgical Patients

Abstract Inadequate surgical knowledge potentiates anxiety; however, no methodology simultaneously addresses anxiety and surgical knowledge. Our quasi‐experimental study determined the effectiveness of a three‐dimensional (3‐D) storybook in increasing surgical knowledge and decreasing anxiety among young children scheduled for planned or required major surgeries. We studied 20 randomly assigned participants who received either the 3‐D storybook or traditional health teaching. A presurgical knowledge questionnaire and modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale assessed surgical knowledge and anxiety. Data were analyzed with one‐way and repeated‐measures multivariate analysis of variance. Results showed that both groups had higher knowledge scores ( F = 8.94; P = .008) and lower anxiety scores ( F = 5.13; P = .036) after the intervention. The children who received information from the 3‐D storybook exhibited a significantly higher posttest knowledge score ( F = 11.71; P = .003) and lower anxiety score ( F = 10.05; P = .005) than the traditionally educated group of children. The 3‐D storybook effectively increased surgical knowledge and decreased anxiety and could be used as an alternative method to prepare pediatric surgical patients.