Pediatric ambulatory surgery: an exploratory study on the impact of nursing visit

Abstract

This is a descriptive and exploratory study using a quantitative approach. It aims at profiling the users of pediatric ambulatory surgery, at identifying pediatric surgical procedures and the determinants for the deferral of pediatric surgeries, as well as the deferral’s relationship with the children not being attended by a nurse. The research was developed at an ambulatory surgery unit and a pediatric surgery polyclinic in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, from August of 2008 to December of 2009. The source of data collection was the institutions’ medical records on the surgical care of children aged less than 12 years old. The records were retrieved from the archives of the surgical clinic and the ambulatory surgery unit (medical and nursing visit records). Data obtained through phone calls to the family during pre-and postoperative were also used. A total of 434 children participated on the study. The predominant profile was: male, aged between four and six years old, submitted to circumcision, attending or not nursing visit.