Influence of video-based educational intervention on patient’s anxiety before surgery

Introduction: Anxiety before surgery, which may affect up to 80% of patients, contributes to postoperative complications and prolongs both hospital stay and recovery time. Thus, identifying patients with excessive anxiety and implementing appropriate interventions is essential.Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a video-based educational intervention in reducing perioperative anxiety in patients scheduled for elective surgery in the general surgery department.Materials and methods: The study comprised 294 patients referred to the hospital for elective surgical procedures. Anxietylevels were evaluated using a translated version of the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) andState-Trait Anxiety Inventory Trait-5 (STAI-T5).Results: The Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information scale scores were found to be significantly lower in the videogroup compared to the control group. A significant correlation was found between the trait anxiety measured by the STAI-T5and the anxiety and information scores of the APAIS. The most frequently reported subjective concern was related to theinfluence of the possible failure of surgery on the fate of their families.Conclusions: Video-based educational intervention helps patients become familiar with the detailed description of the hospital stay and the course of surgery. Educational videos are effective in reducing preoperative anxiety and patient's need forinformation. Therefore, they should be increasingly implemented into everyday medical practice.