Daily screen time and pre-surgery anxiety in 2–5 year olds
The Effect of Daily Screen Exposure Duration on Preoperative Anxiety in Children Aged 2-5 Years: A Prospective Observational Study
We will see if children's daily screen time is linked to how anxious they feel right before elective surgery for kids aged 2 to 5.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 275 (estimated) |
| Ages | 2 Years to 5 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul, küçükçekmece) |
| Trial ID | NCT07425405 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a prospective observational study enrolling children aged 2–5 who are scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia at a single center in Istanbul. Parents complete a structured Turkish questionnaire about their child's daily screen exposure and related factors, and children are grouped as <1 hour, 1–2 hours, or >2 hours per day. Preoperative anxiety is measured immediately before anesthesia induction using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS). Secondary analyses examine screen-related variables (age at first exposure, content type, passive exposure, parental screen time, bedroom screens) and sociodemographic and clinical influences.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Children aged 2–5 years scheduled for elective procedures under general anesthesia (ASA I–III) whose parents can complete the Turkish questionnaire and who do not have developmental, psychiatric, sensory impairments, or chronic sedative/antipsychotic use.
Not a fit: Children undergoing emergency surgery, those with known developmental or psychiatric disorders, children on chronic sedative/antipsychotic/antiepileptic medications, or those already given premedication are unlikely to benefit from this study's findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If a link is found, clinicians could use screen-time information to identify children at higher risk for preoperative anxiety and tailor preparation or coping strategies to reduce difficult inductions and postoperative agitation.
How similar studies have performed: Observational literature has linked excessive early childhood screen time to anxiety and behavioral problems, but applying these findings to preoperative anxiety is novel and has not been previously studied clinically.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Children aged 2 to 5 years * Scheduled for elective surgical procedures under general anesthesia * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III * Parent or legal guardian able to provide written informed consent * Parent able to complete the structured questionnaire in Turkish Exclusion Criteria: * Premedication administered or planned prior to anxiety assessment * Emergency surgical procedures * Known developmental delay or neurodevelopmental disorder * Known psychiatric disorder * Visual or hearing impairment that may interfere with behavioral assessment * Chronic use of sedative, antipsychotic, or antiepileptic medications * Anticipated need for postoperative intensive care * Incomplete or unreliable questionnaire data * Inability to perform mYPAS assessment prior to anesthesia induction
Where this trial is running
Istanbul, küçükçekmece
- Health Science University İstanbul Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Education and Training Hospital — Istanbul, küçükçekmece, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.