The effects of structured preoperative teaching on the anxiety level and the compliance behavior of postoperative patients

Abstract

In this research study, the effect of structured preoperative teaching on artxiety.and compliance was examined. The researcher hypothesized that patients who received the structured preoperative teaching would experience less anxiety postoperatively and would exhibit more compliance to the specific postoperative routines of turning, coughing, deep breathing, incentive spirometry and ambulation. The study utilized a quasi-experimental research des1gn. Ten subjects, undergoing a variety of lower abdominal surgeries, were assigned to either an experimental or a control group. Demographic data, such as age, sex, marital status, and amount of education, and subjective data, including the Sirne preoperative questionnaire and the Zung self-rating anxiety scale, were obtained preoperatively before teaching was begun. Subjective data utilizing the Sime postoperative questionnaire and objective data, using the Tessier cornpliance.to postoperative routines scale were obtained postoperatively. Analysis of variance and analysis of covariance were used to analy"ze the data. Both hypotheses were supported. The results of· the study showed th.at preoperative teaching did lessen anxiety and did increase compliance to the postoperative routines.