Effect of preoperative teaching on anxiety level of patients with neurosurgery

Abstract

Neurosurgical procedures are carried out to treat various disorders affecting the nervous system. It is common to feel nervous and anxious when one is scheduled to undergo a neuro surgical procedure. Aim: to know the effect of preoperative teaching in reduction of anxiety just before the neurosurgery. Methods: The study was conducted using nonequivalent control group pre-test and post-test design on patients who were admitted in surgical ward for first fifteen days 26 patients as interventional group. After fifteen days interval, again selected all the patients who met the inclusive criteria who were admitted in surgical ward for another fifteen days 28 patients for as control group. Anxiety was evaluated using a validated Spielberger State-Trait anxiety inventory. Findings: The study includes and. Comparison between interventional and control group in relation to sex, education, domicile and income found statistically similar. At admission, State and trait anxiety score mean value of interventional group were 45.31 and control group were 45.11. Interventional group anxiety score reduced to Mean value of 40.31, just before surgery, which is statistically significant (p>0.05) whereas no change of anxiety score in control groups, Mean value to 47.75 just before surgery, which is not statistically significant. Conclusion: The study findings suggest that preoperative teaching could decrease the level of preoperative anxiety in this patient population.