Effectiveness of nursing interventions for preoperative anxiety in adults: A systematic review with meta‐analysis

• Published in: Journal of advanced nursing Vol. 77; no. 8; pp. 3274 - 3285
• Main Authors: Ruiz Hernández, Carolina, Gómez‐Urquiza, José L., Pradas‐Hernández, Laura, Vargas Roman, Keyla, Suleiman‐Martos, Nora, Albendín‐García, Luis, Cañadas‐De la Fuente, Guillermo A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-08-2021
• Subjects: Adults; Analysis; Anxiety; individualized care; Intervention; interview; Interviews; Massage; Meta-analysis; Nursing; Perioperative anxiety; Perioperative care; perioperative nurse; preoperative anxiety; preoperative visit; Random effects; Surgery; Systematic review; individualized care; perioperative nurse; preoperative anxiety; preoperative visit; meta-analysis; nursing; systematic review; interview
• ISSN: 0309-2402; 1365-2648
• DOI: 10.1111/jan.14827

Aims
The aim of this review and meta‐analysis is to analyse the effectiveness of nursing interventions for the management of preoperative anxiety in adults.
Background
The perioperative process is a stressful situation for many people who are going to be operated and it can generate feelings of anxiety. Also, preoperative anxiety can appear in the perioperative period. Nursing management of preoperative anxiety through individualized interventions can be effective for reducing anxiety.
Design
A systematic review with meta‐analysis was performed.
Data sources
CINAHL, CUIDEN, Pubmed, ProQuest and Scopus databases were consulted without restriction per year of publication. The search was conducted in February 2020.
Review methods
Experimental studies on nursing management in preoperative anxiety with adults sample (>18 years) published in English and/or Spanish were included. All types of surgery were included in the review. A random effects meta‐analysis was performed to estimate the effect size for preoperative anxiety measured with STAI.
Results
After the selection process n = 9 quantitative studies with nursing interventions for preoperative anxiety were included. A preoperative educational and informative interview was used in six studies, one study used empathic interview, one used motivational interview and one used hand massage. The meta‐analysis, including four studies using nursing interviews, had a sample of n = 419 in the intervention group and n = 445 in the control group. The mean difference in preoperative state anxiety measured with the STAI was in favour of the nursing intervention.
Conclusion
Nursing interventions for patients who are going to be operated seems to have a positive impact in their preoperative anxiety. However, due to the low number of studies and the heterogeneity of the sample, more research is needed about the topic.