Table 3 Comparison of postoperative behaviors from the Post Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire

General anxiety subscale:

  Needs a pacifier

7 (3.0)

2 (2.3)

0.76 (0.18–3.30)

  Afraid to leave the house with you

4 (1.7)

5 (5.7)

3.49 (0.99–12.32)

  Uninterested in things about them

5 (2.1)

3 (3.4)

1.63 (0.42–6.33)

  Bites fingernails

1 (0.4)

1 (1.1)

2.70 (0.28–26.15)

  Avoids/afraid of new things

6 (2.5)

7 (7.9)

3.31 (1.13–9.69)*

  Difficulty deciding

9 (3.8)

9 (10.2)

2.87 (1.13–7.29)*

  Irregular bowel habits

40 (16.9)

25 (28.4)

1.94 (1.10–3.44)*

  Sucks fingers/thumbs

4 (1.7)

1 (1.1)

0.67 (0.09–4.52)

Separation anxiety subscale:

  Upset when parent leaves

26 (11.0)

16 (18.2)

1.79 (0.92–3.51)

  Upset when doctors or hospitals mentioned

28 (11.9)

15 (17.1)

1.53 (0.78–2.99)

  Follows parent around the house

21 (8.9)

18 (20.5)

2.63 (1.34–5.18)*

  Seeks attention

33 (13.9)

25 (28.4)

2.44 (1.36–4.39)*

  Bad dreams/wakes a lot

27 (11.4)

35 (39.8)

5.11 (2.86–9.15)*

Sleep anxiety subscale:

  Fussy going to bed

9 (3.8)

9 (10.2)

2.87 (1.13–7.29)*

  Afraid of the dark

6 (2.5)

6 (6.8)

2.81 (0.93–8.50)

  Difficulty going to sleep

19 (8.0)

7 (7.9)

0.99 (0.41–2.38)

Eating disturbances subscale:

  Fussy about eating

16 (6.8)

30 (34.1)

7.11 (3.66–13.83)*

  Spends time doing nothing/lying around

43 (18.2)

33 (37.5)

2.69 (1.57–4.63)*

  Poor appetite

25 (10.6)

41 (46.6)

7.36 (4.09–13.23)*

Aggression against authority subscale:

  Temper tantrums

22 (9.3)

24 (27.3)

3.65 (1.93–6.89)*

  Disobeys

20 (8.47)

21 (23.9)

3.39 (1.74–6.57)*

Apathy/withdrawal subscale:

  Wets the bed

10 (4.2)

7 (7.9)

1.95 (0.74–5.14)

  Needs help doing things

30 (12.7)

17 (19.3)

1.64 (0.86–3.14)

  Lack of interest in games/toys

8 (3.39)

9 (10.2)

3.25 (1.25–8.44)*

  Difficult getting child to talk

7 (2.9)

12 (13.6)

5.17 (2.02–13.19)*

  Shy with strangers

9 (3.8)

5 (5.7)

1.52 (0.52–4.46)

  Breaks toys/objects

7 (2.9)

5 (5.7)

1.97 (0.64–6.06)