Effect of Preoperative Visitation by Operating Room Staff on Preoperative Anxiety in Patients Receiving Elective Hernia Surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative visitation on preoperative anxiety in patients receiving elective hernia surgery.

DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study.

METHODS: Seventy patients undergoing hernia surgery were selected and assigned to the experimental group (N = 35) and the control group (N = 35). In the intervention group, the surgical technologist visited the patient in the surgical ward the night before surgery and after transferring the patient to the waiting room in the operating room department. The control group received only routine preoperative care by nurses in the surgical ward and operating room department. For both groups, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was completed in two stages, on the night before surgery and on arrival time in the operating room.

FINDINGS: Average age was 41.2 ± 13.4 years. Statistical tests showed a significant reduction in anxiety after intervention (42.3 ± 9.2) compared with before intervention (45.6 ± 9) and between the two groups after intervention (50.9 ± 10.7 in the control group vs 42.3 ± 9.2 in the intervention group).

CONCLUSIONS: Using an anxiety evaluation approach in preoperative training programs to manage anxiety in surgical patients is recommended.