Use of video-based multimedia information to reduce anxiety before office hysteroscopy.

Abstract

IntroductionUse of multimedia tools has been shown to improve patient comprehension, reduce pre-procedural anxiety, and increase patient satisfaction in various surgical settings.AimTo investigate the impact of video-based multimedia information (MMI) on the anxiety levels of patients undergoing office hysteroscopy (OH).Material and methodsAll consecutive women aged 18–65 years and scheduled for diagnostic OH were enrolled in this prospective randomized study. Subjects were assigned to receive video-based MMI or conventional written information (controls). The trait and state anxiety were assessed using the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before the MMI or written information. STAI-state (STAI-S) was repeated after application of the MMI or written information. All patients underwent a standardized transvaginal hysteroscopy procedure by the same gynecologist. Following the hysteroscopy, patient satisfaction and procedural pain were ranked using a Likert scale and visual analogue scale.ResultsFifty-two patients were randomized to receive a video-based MMI, and 52 patients were randomized to receive written information. Post-information STAI-S score was significantly lower in the MMI group than that of the written information group (45.0 ±8.0 vs. 49.4 ±8.4, p < 0.001, 95% CI for the difference: 1.36–7.79). Moreover, the satisfaction rate of the video group was significantly higher than the satisfaction rate of the controls (92.3% vs. 63.5%, p < 0.001). VAS score of procedural pain was similar for the two groups.ConclusionsA video-based MMI before OH might be preferred to conventional information methods in order to reduce the pre-procedural anxiety and to increase patients’ satisfaction.