Surgery information reduces anxiety in the pre-operative period

Abstract

PURPOSE:Patients preparing to undergo surgery should not suffer needless anxiety. This study aimed to evaluate anxiety levels on the day before surgery as related to the information known by the patient regarding the diagnosis, surgical procedure, or anesthesia.METHOD: Patients reported their knowledge of diagnosis, surgery, and anesthesia. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to measure patient anxiety levels.RESULTS: One hundred and forty-nine patients were selected, and 82 females and 38 males were interviewed. Twentynine patients were excluded due to illiteracy. The state-anxiety levels were alike for males and females (36.10 ± 11.94 vs. 37.61 ± 8.76) (mean ± SD). Trait-anxiety levels were higher for women (42.55 ± 10.39 vs. 38.08 ± 12.25, P = 0.041). Patient education level did not influence the state-anxiety level but was inversely related to the trait-anxiety level. Knowledge of the diagnosis was clear for 91.7% of patients, of the surgery for 75.0%, and of anesthesia for 37.5%. Unfamiliarity with the surgical procedure raised state-anxiety levels (P = 0.021). A lower state-anxiety level was found among patients who did not know the diagnosis but knew about the surgery (P = 0.038).CONCLUSIONS: Increased knowledge of patients regarding the surgery they are about to undergo may reduce their state-anxiety levels.

Efeitos de orientações fisioterapêuticas sobre a ansiedade de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica

“…Differently of our findings, Kiyohara et al [27] found no significant difference in anxiety levels between female and male. According to Gallagher and McKinley [31], information provided at the time before surgery to reduce anxiety, especially in women.…”

“…Corroborating the findings of this study presented herein, lower levels of anxiety were noted in those patients who had knowledge about the surgical procedure, as described by Kiyohara et al [27]. However, Bergmann et al [5] and Schuldham et al [28] found no significant difference in scores between patients guided or not on the same disorder before the surgery.…”

“…The inventory consists of 21 items, on which each of them reflects on the gradual levels of each symptom, whereas the anxiety is classified as minimal with values between (0-10), mild (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19), moderate (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) and severe anxiety (31-63) [24]. The application of the scale was performed by the psychologist, and she has no knowledge of which group (intervention or control) the patient belonged.…”

L’efficacia della corretta informazione e la sua incidenza nella compliace del paziente. Studio di coorte nella S.S. di Emodinamica dell’Azienda Ospedaliera di Alessandria

“…Come riportato da Kiyohara et al 28, una visita preoperatoria effettuata da un anestesista è la megliore educazione per il paziente e può ridurre significativamente l'ansia nei pazienti. Il miglioramento delle procedure chirurgiche e la dimissione precoce dei i pazienti significa che l'assistenza infermieristica oggi si concentra più sull'assistenza psicologica e di gestione dell'ansia, che sono diventati pietre miliari della assistenza infermieristica in chirurgia29.…”

Perioperative Anxiety

“…Lack of adequate and timely information to patients during the pre-anesthetic consultation increases patient anxiety. Study done by Kiyohara et al found that patients receiving better preanesthetic information during the visit with the anesthesiologist showed reduced rates of anxiety [10]. The day of admission can also be a very stressful, as patients have to cope with both the stress of hospitalization and the anxiety about the impending surgery.…”