Assessing the effect of preoperative structured teaching on preoperative anxiety and depressive symptoms among patients in the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK): a pre-test post-test study

Abstract

Background: Psychological issues are a major concern that need to be addressed while handling patients. Some of the psychological issues common among preoperative patients are fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and depressive symptoms Objectives: This study sought to assess the effectiveness of preoperative structured teaching in reducing preoperative anxiety and preoperative depressive symptoms among adult preoperative patients.

Materials and methods: This study used a pre-test post-test study design. Data was collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire (Appendix 1) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (Appendix 2). Data analysis was done through the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) software version 29.0. Data presentation after analysis was done with the utilization of tables, pie charts, and textual descriptions.

Findings: Structured education significantly impacted the participants' A-scores (Anxiety scores): t= (80) = 13.029, P<.001. Equally, there was a decrease in the D Score (Depressive symptoms scores) after the intervention (M = 3.48, SD = 2.48) and D-Score After (M = 1.91, SD = 1.97) scores, t (80) = 8.754, p < .001

Conclusion and recommendations: The findings from this study showed a statistically significant difference between pre-intervention and postintervention scores of depressive and anxiety symptoms. This concludes that preoperative education effectively improved depressive and anxiety symptoms among patients waiting for surgery. Future research could explore the effect of individualized education on anxiety and depressive symptoms in preoperative patients.