SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF NURSING
RESEARCH JOURNAL

Title:
The Effect of Video and Images of Operating Room on
Patients’ Anxiety before General Surgery: A Randomized
Clinical Trial

Submission date:
June 05, 2018

Submitted by:
BALANAY, Sonia Marie L.

Submitted to:
Cheryl Danglipen
RN, CI Level 2
Summary:

Introduction: Patients experience moderate to high level of anxiety before surgery. Many
strategies such as sedative-hypnotic agents are developed to improve anxiety. Anxiety is
characterized by symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, trembling or shaking, shortness of
breath or smothering sensations, chest pain or discomfort, and stomach distress. The current
study aimed to evaluate the effect of video and images of operating room on patients’ anxiety
before general surgery.

Methods: A clinical trial was performed on 60 patients undergoing general surgery referred
to Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan, Iran, from 2014 to 2015. By convenient sampling
method, sixty patients were selected and randomly allocated into the experimental and
control groups. In the experimental group, the video information and images about operating
room was played by a laptop for each patient for 30 minutes on the day before surgery and
in the morning before surgery. The state anxiety of the two groups was measured after
intervention. The control group received verbal information (the usual method in hospitals).
Data analysis was conducted using χ 2 test, independent T-test and paired T-test by SPSS
software version 16.

Results: The current study results indicated that the video and images about operating room
can reduce anxiety in patients undergoing general surgery. The mean scores of state and trait
anxiety before and after intervention are presented in result section. In the experimental
group, mean scores of state anxiety decreased from 3.1 ± 43.8 to 2.3 ± 32.4, following the
intervention (P = 0.02). However, mean scores did not significantly change in the control
group (P = 0.3).

Discussion: The current study investigated the effect of video and images of operating room
on patients’ anxiety before general surgery. Several studies showed that patients have
anxiety before and during invasive procedures such as surgery (24, 25). Studies showed that
lack of knowledge about treatment and unfamiliarity with the environment are the main
reasons for anxiety (26, 27). In the current study, a significant difference was observed
between the mean scores of anxiety before and after showing video and images in the
experimental group. These findings are consistent with those of a study by Philippe et al.
studies showed that every kind of training can reduce anxiety in patients undergoing general
surgery. Study showed that familiarity with the operating room by showing video and images
can reduce anxiety in patients undergoing general surgery.
C. Learning Insights
1.) Insights/relevance to patient’s care/case
The contents of this academic journal is consists of what is the effect of video and
images of operating room on patients’ anxiety before general surgery, what should the
patient expect when they undergoes a surgery, what intervention or management should do
reduce the anxiety of the patient before surgery. This thing will help me as a student nurse
to give a health teachings and proper explanation of the treatment by showing some videos
and images regarding the operation to be done and the environment of the OR because this
study showed that lack of knowledge about treatment and unfamiliarity with the
environment are the main reasons for anxiety.

2.) Relevance to area of rotational/local setting/Philippines

My area of rotation is at Benguet General Hospital where we took care of the patient.
Where we are the one to give health teachings and we are the one to orient or familiarize
the patient with the environment of the operating room. So if I gain more knowledge about
the technique and management to reduce the anxiety before surgery the outcome of the
care that I will be doing will be better and for me to improve myself as a student nurse. There
may be times at BeGH my clinical instructor may not be watching me so if I know what I’m
doing I can provide necessary and essential care for the patient.

3.) Relevance to nursing research

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of video and images of operating
room on patients’ anxiety before general surgery. This give me the knowledge for the right
intervention or management to reduce the anxiety of the patient before surgery, to become
more ready when there will be times that the patient experienced moderate to high anxiety,
by doing this the patient will alleviate their anxiety. And for research, this makes me nurture
my ability to do my research on things I do need and things I want to learn. For these things
are very essential on my calling as an aspiring nurse for the future.

4.) Learning insights on this journal

I’ve learn that we health providers should also seek ways or methods of management
to be able to provide comfort to our patient or to reduce their anxiety before surgery. It is
very important to give a proper explanation of the treatment to be done to the patient and
to familiarize them with the environment by showing some videos and images that is relevant
to the procedure or situation to reduce their anxiety. In this way we can help them and at the
same time we can help ourselves to become more competent and effective health care
provider.
Reference:

Mirsane, S. A., Ajorpaz, N. M., Shafagh, S., & Aminpour, J. (2016). The effect of video and images
of operating room on patients’ anxiety before general surgery: A randomized clinical trial.
Critical Care Nursing. Retrieved from http://jccnursing.com/en/articles/6543.html.