How would patients prefer to spend the waiting time before their operations?

Abstract

SummaryMany surgical patients are anxious while waiting to go to the operating theatre in spite of the best preparation with drugs, information and reassurance. It is possible that patients could be more comfortable if allowed a choice of activities before operations. The objective of this study was to find out how pre-operative patients might prefer to occupy their time. We distributed 200 questionnaires to elective surgery patients and 184 (92%) were available for analysis. Of the respondents, 54.1% wanted to be slightly sleepy, 72.0% preferred not to be fast asleep and 57.2% preferred not to be wide awake. Reading (56.8%), listening to music (57.1%) and chatting with other patients (39.9%) were preferred activities. It might be appropriate to ask patients how sedated they would wish to be before their surgery and perhaps have alternatives to sedation available.

Anesthesiologist's role in relieving patient's anxiety

“…However, some references do not coincide with the above study. [2526] These figures may be similar to those found in the study by Hyde et al .,[22] who reported that many patients (two-third) do not prefer to watch the operation. However, our study was not meant to show only procedures of operations but also involved questionnaire of assurance to allay anxiety of the patient.…”

“…Seeing the patient well in advance as supposed to keeping them uniformed and then 1 h before surgery giving them all the information and asking them to decide, adequate explanation of the benefits, and risks along with the constant communication and reassurance throughout the procedure would establish rapport, build confidence, trust, and alleviate all fears. [22] Different methods have been used to reduce patient's anxiety such as giving sedatives or advising patients to listen to music of their preferences either preoperatively or during the operation. However, our study devised the method of showing video clipping/images[2324] of various patients going to surgery from PAC room to operation table showing the particular clipping of a specific operation to the patient undergoing some procedure, using questionnaire method devised by the HAM-A scale.…”

Anesthesiologists’ perception of patients’ anxiety under regional anesthesia

“…This may have added to the controversy regarding the efficiency of these methods,25,26 and the availability of these educational materials in our hospitals. These figures may be similar to those found in a study by Hyde et al23 who reported more than two thirds of patients preferred not to watch the operation.…”

“…All of these measures are well established methods to reduce patients’ anxiety,9,10 and patients usually gain benefit from them 23. Several respondents commented upon the effectiveness of using anatomy slides and an orthopedic spine model to demonstrate how/where spinal/epidural needles are inserted, emphasizing they do not go into the cord itself.…”

Music and Health

“…Some researchers have found that in the waiting room area of an operation theatre, both head phone and broadcast music was effective in reducing the preoperative anxiety (Hyde et al, 1998). Music therapy pre-operatively reduces post-operative pain and analgesic requirements.…”