Child Life Intervention to Decrease Anxiety in Patients and Caregivers for Outpatient Surgical Intervention

For patients randomized to the intervention group, the Child Life specialist will reach out via telephone to offer support and expertise in helping prepare their child and themselves for outpatient surgery to help decrease anxiety and increase coping. Concepts covered will include: developmentally appropriate language for explaining surgery and related procedures, potential coping skills to ease separation for caregivers and pediatric patients. Additionally, written materials (attached) covering the same information will be sent via mail or email covering the same information discussed in the phone conversation to serve as a refresher and resource before the day of surgery. On the day of surgery, the patient will receive standard of care (SOC) Child Life Services available to all patients.