Preoperative education and patient's anxiety

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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ABSTRACT

The notion of being admitted to the hospital for a surgery can result in causing anxiety for the patients. Studies indicate that many hospitalized patients do not expect to describe or communicate their pain experience to health professionals; rather they assume health care professionals will know when to treat their postoperative pain. The purpose of the study is to determine the relationship of preoperative education and patient's anxiety. Preoperative information is provided to help patients understand and participate in treatment decisions, not only as part of legal consent, but also in determining the actual course of treatment. The results of this study will add to our knowledge about the role of preoperative education on postoperative recovery. The arrangement and creation of a research methodology plays a very vital role in conducting a research, for a research to be efficient it is important that proper research methodology is applied.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the Study1

Significance of the Study2

Purpose of the Study2

Research Questions3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW4

Anxiety4

Preoperative Anxiety5

Reducing Preoperative Anxiety8

Preoperative Education11

Physical Climate12

Psychological Climate14

Preoperative Education and Anxiety18

Summary20

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY22

Questionnaires22

Sampling23

Validity and Reliability23

Research Ethics23

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION25

Survey Analysis25

Discussion36

Factors of preoperative Anxiety36

Impact of Anxiety39

Post-operative patients41

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS44

REFERENCES45

APPENDICES48

Questionnaire48

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The notion of being admitted to the hospital for a surgery can result in causing anxiety for the patients. Due to certain types of surgery, patients spend their post operative period in ICU to allow the monitoring and management of nursing. Many patients have found ICU to be an alien environment and they have established links between the admissions to such environment and resulting in anxieties which some patients suffer. It has become increasingly important for nurse to use a patient centered approach which helps in providing information and education for the treatment they are receiving (Bird, Dickson, 2001, 639). Similarly, their relatives should also be provided information. It has been suggested that encouraging and empowering patients help in exerting a great responsibility and control for health care. The impact of pre operative information has been heavily debated by many researchers as they claim that the psychologically preparing the patients for operation can have a positive influence on the patients post operative conditions. The effects of nurses who undertake pre operative tests by providing pre operative information has been researched and documented by many researchers.

Fear and anxiety are prevalent in anticipation of surgery because of the association of surgery with pain, disfigurement, dependence and death (Giordano, 2006, 15). The extensiveness and uncertainty of the surgery and a diagnosis of cancer all contribute ...