Iran Journal of Nursing

  Background & Aim: Although surgery as a means of therapy is used today and saves many patients’ lives but it has also some complications. One of its most important psychological complications is preoperative anxiety. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nursing process based care on patients' anxiety of candidates for women’s elective surgery.

  Material & Methods: Using a randomized clinical trial, 60 candidates for women’s elective surgery in kosar hospital of Qazvin city were randomly assigned to either control or experimental groups. The experimental group was assessed based on nursing process after admission. If any nursing diagnoses including anxiety, knowledge deficit, or fear were found, then the required training was provided to the patients . The control group just received routine care. Data was collected using Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) and a laboratory test for measurement of serum cortisol level. Data analysis was performed by descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square test, fisher’s exact test, paired t test, independent t test, Wilcoxon and Pearson correlation) using SPSS-PC (v.17).

  Results: Paired t test results showed that the mean score for preoperative anxiety in the experimental group (13.6 ± 3.3) compared to the time of admission (23.33 ± 3.6) has been significantly decreased (p= 0.001, t= - 4.7). Whereas the mean score for preoperative anxiety in the control group (23/4 ± 4.28) compared to mean score of anxiety at admission time (17/03 ± 3.96) had been increased (p=0.001, t = -7.39). Results of independent t test showed that the mean preoperative anxiety score in the experimental group was significantly less than control group (p=0.001, t = -10.3).

 Conclusion: According to the results, nursing care based on nursing process as an effective and non pharmaceutical intervention can be recommended for reducing anxiety and concerns of these patients.

  Received: 2 Jun 2012

  Accepted: 18 Aug 2012