Nursing Interventions and Their Effectiveness in Reducing Anxiety Among Preoperative Patients

Abstract

Preoperative anxiety is a typical psychological response among patients awaiting surgery, leading to adverse effects such as increased pain perception, delayed recovery, and higher complication risks. Effective nursing interventions can play a vital role in mitigating anxiety, enhancing patients' psychological preparedness, and improving surgical outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions comprising preoperative education, therapeutic communication, relaxation techniques, and environmental modification in reducing anxiety levels among preoperative patients. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at Ch—Pervaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology Hospital, Multan, Pakistan, from January to June 2025. Ninety preoperative patients aged 18–65 years undergoing elective surgery were selected through non-probability purposive sampling. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was administered before and 24 hours after nursing interventions. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, applying paired sample t-tests with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results: The mean pre-intervention anxiety score was 58.6 ± 6.4, which significantly decreased to 42.3 ± 5.7 after intervention (p < 0.001). Both genders exhibited substantial reductions, with females showing a slightly greater decline (mean difference: 17.2) compared to males (mean difference: 15.3). The highest decrease was observed in patients aged 18–30 years (mean difference: 18.1), followed by those aged 31–45 years (16.2) and 46–60 years (15.5), all statistically significant (p < 0.001). These findings indicate that nursing interventions were effective across all demographic subgroups. Conclusion: Structured nursing interventions significantly reduced preoperative anxiety among surgical patients. Educational counseling, relaxation techniques, and therapeutic communication proved practical and feasible within the Pakistani hospital setting. Integrating evidence-based nursing approaches into preoperative care can improve patient satisfaction, reduce psychological distress, and enhance postoperative recovery.