iPad Games Are Keeping Kids Calm Before Surgery Anthony Cuthbertson - Newsweek
go to original August 31, 2016

iPads have been described as “digital heroin” and “electronic cocaine” by neuroscientists researching addiction but a new study suggests the tablets can also have a positive effect on children’s brains.

At the annual World Congress of Anesthesiologists taking place in Hong Kong this week, French scientists will present research that shows how iPads can be as effective as sedatives for children before operations.

Anxiety levels of both parents and children aged 4 to 10 years old were measured before and after the operation. Results showed that allowing children to use iPads to distract them before surgery requiring general anaesthesia is as effective at lowering their anxiety as conventional sedatives.

Furthermore, satisfaction levels for parents with children using iPads was improved, while anxiety levels were also lowered.

“Our study showed that child and parental anxiety before anaesthesia are equally blunted by [the sedative] midazolam or use of the iPad,” said Dominique Chassard, who headed the study. “However, the quality of induction of anaesthesia, as well as parental satisfaction, were judged better in the iPad group.

Clinical studies on tech addiction have previously found that computer, smartphone and tablet screens can increase depression, anxiety and aggression in children.

Read the rest at Newsweek

Photo: Techly

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