The effect of pre-operative psychological interventions on post-operative outcomes in Chinese women having an elective hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE To test the effect of cognitive interventions with information given pre-operatively on post-operative outcomes in Chinese women undergoing elective hysterectomies. DESIGN An experimental design. The experimental group (n=48) received cognitive distraction and cognitive reappraisal with information, the control group (n=48) received information only. OUTCOME MEASURES Post-operative anxiety (Chinese State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and mean arterial blood pressure), post-operative requests for analgesia (drug record), post-operative pain (visual analogue scale) and satisfaction (Chinese Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire). RESULTS Cognitive distraction and reappraisal with information produced lower post-operative anxiety and pain scores and higher levels of satisfaction than information only. Post-operative analgesic requests did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive distraction and reappraisal with information, when used with women undergoing a hysterectomy may have significant clinical benefits.