The Effect of BATHE Method on Preoperative Anxiety, Patient Satisfaction and Individual Anesthesia Concerns: Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the causes of concern among the patients who will undergo elective surgical operations and receive general anesthesia, to gauge their preoperative anxiety levels and to study the effects of the BATHE method on preoperative anxiety and patient satisfaction. Material and Methods: Five hundred adult patients who were planned to undergo elective surgery with general anesthesia were included in the study. Before the preoperative examination, demographic data of all patients, their three biggest fears about anesthesia and Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) scores were recorded. Then, the patients were divided into two groups with a closed envelope randomization method with 250 patients in each. The patients underwent BATHE anamnesis or standard anamnesis methods according to their groups, then their APAIS and patient satisfaction scores were recorded. Results: The most feared cause of anesthesia in all patients was 'not waking up after surgery'. The APAIS anxiety score was found to be higher in women, young people, married people with children, people with no prior anesthesia experience and people with a higher degree of education. Anxiety values were found to be higher in gynaecology patients and obstetrics. The difference between APAIS scores before and after the examination was higher in the group using the BATHE method during the preoperative visit compared to the standard anamnesis group. The patient satisfaction score of the patients in the BATHE group was higher than the standard anamnesis group. Conclusion: We concluded that the inclusion of BATHE interview technique in preoperative examination may reduce preoperative anxiety.