Patient centered communication and anxiety in the postoperative

Objective: Gynaecologic surgery in addition to the common concerns to all surgical procedures, involves psychological and emotional issues. Anxiety is a common outcome. Studies indicate that systematic preoperative information contributes to decreased levels of anxiety and to a faster postoperative recovery, with no complications. In the present clinical study we evaluated the impact of systematic patient centered preoperative information on the levels of postoperative anxiety, in patients with gynaecological cancer diagnosis. Methods: Patients with gynaecological cancer diagnosis admitted to the Gynaecologic Department of São João Hospital Oporto from 15 th May to 31 st August 2011 were randomly submitted to either patient centered systematic information or a routine nursing care. Patients were assessed on admission, immediately before and after surgery. The assessment included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI II) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: It was found that the patients of the study group felt less anxious on the day of surgery than those of the control group (p < 0.05). However, the rates of postoperative anxiety level score of the study group slightly increased. In the control group, this level remained stable throughout hospitalization. Conclusion: Systematic patient centered preoperative information appears to be a potentially beneficial intervention for gynaecologic cancer patients. Further research, with larger samples, is clearly needed to better understand the potential benefits of this intervention and to clarify the unexpected increased levels of postoperative anxiety.