Coming to hospital is scary for children.
They are entering unfamiliar, unpredictable environments with associations of pain, being separated from their caregiver and feeling unwell. This uncertainty leads to anxiety. In fact, 50-75% of children experience significant anxiety before healthcare procedures.
And this is not without consequence. Children experiencing high levels of anxiety are more at risk of poor patient experiences. For example, 25% of these children are subject to physical restraint during anaesthetic induction and almost a quarter require sedative pre-medication. In addition, they are more likely to suffer worse mental and physical health outcomes; research demonstrates that children reporting high levels of anxiety before elective surgery are more likely to develop negative behavioural changes, for instance bedwetting, nightmares, and separation anxiety, that are on-going at two weeks post-op.
Peri-procedural anxiety also negatively impacts healthcare and research organisations. It results in increased rates of unplanned admissions and on-the-day cancellations and, for research organisations, an increased withdrawal rate from clinical trials.
So how can Little Journey help?
Little Journey believes in the power of familiarisation and desensitisation to better prepare families, reducing uncertainty and managing anxiety. We achieve this through an innovative digital tool that uses engaging, interactive virtual tours, relaxation animations and information articles all tailored to the child’s age, procedure type and hospital. Our app is free for families to download and available for use at a time and location convenient to them. By psychologically preparing and supporting more children throughout their hospital journey we do believe that Little Journey can support all children, across the world, to better health.
See how Little Journey can help in Healthcare