The effect of anesthetic patient education on preoperative patient anxiety

Background and Objectives. Preoperative time spent with patients has been a bbreviated with the advent of same-day admission requirements and outpatien t surgery. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects that materials mailed to the home relating to anesthetic-focused patient education may hav e on preoperative patient anxiety. Methods. Patients scheduled for a total hip arthroplasty or for a total knee arthroplasty were screened via telepho ne for inclusion in a prospective, randomized study. Patients were asked ab out their access to a video cassette recorder/prayer (VCR) and their limita tions regarding hearing or vision. Subjects were randomly assigned to eithe r the intervention group and received two pamphlets and a video describing general and regional anesthesia or to the usual care group. All subjects we re mailed a preoperative demographic questionnaire and a State Trait Anxiet y Inventory (STAI), as developed by CD Spielberger (1). Questionnaires were completed at least 96 hours prior to admission and again preoperative on t he day of surgery. Results. Of 236 patients screened, 26 had no access to a VCR, 6 were hearing or visually impaired, and 4 declined participation. Of 200 subjects randomized, 134 completed both sets of questionnaires and thu s form. the basis of this report. A statistically significant difference be tween the subjects who received the video and pamphlets and the usual care subjects was detected with respect to change in STAI-assessed anxiety from baseline to immediately prior to surgery (P = .035). The intervention subje cts experienced a smaller mean increase in anxiety, Forty-nine percent of t he usual care subjects expressed interest in having additional information. Conclusions. Increase in preoperative anxiety is diminished when additiona l anesthesia information in printed and video format is made available. Use ful information can be provided to patients to view or read prior to surger y.