Author(s)

Marianne K. Thygesen^1,2*, René De Pont Christensen³, Lone Hedemand¹, Ole Mogensen^1,2

¹Institute of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
³Research Unit of General Practice, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.

Patients are often nervous prior to surgery and females might suffer the most. Increased nervousness needs attention as it can negatively affect postoperative recovery. Support from nurses, i.e. being present, attentive, empowering and helpful to the patient, and talking about what is on the patient’s mind, might help to reduce nervousness. However, there is a lack of evidence as to the ideal level of attention and resources to reduce preoperative nervousness. The objective of the current study was to compare a range of care combinations with standard care to female patients prior to sedation and cancer surgery primarily on difference in change in nervousness from admission until sedation before cancer surgery, measured on a Visual Analouge Scale. Using simple randomization and numbers in sealed envelopes, adult gynaecological patients scheduled for open cancer surgery were allocated to care provided by a nurse anaesthetist and: A) a surgical nurse, B) no additional care, C) a known nurse , and D) a relative. Only the statistician was blinded. The trial stopped when the calculated numbers were included. In the full analysis set, compared to standard care A) (n = 61), we observed the following mean changes and [95% confidence intervals]: B) (n = 65) 1.05 [CI: 0.298 to 1.794] with p = 0.006, C) (n = 61): -0.38 [-1.140 to 0.385] with p = 0.330, D) (n = 71): 0.23 [-0.498 to 0.967] with p = 0.528. Female cancer patients will benefit from supportive care by a surgical nurse from the time of arrival on the operating ward plus supportive care from a nurse anesthetist from 5 - 10 minutes after entering the operating ward. It is not recommended at any time to rely fully on the support of relatives. The effect on adults of preoperative painful procedures and patients’ time alone on the operating ward should be further investigated.

Anxiety, Cancer, Perioperative Care, Randomized Controlled Trial, Women’s Health

Thygesen, M. , Christensen, R. , Hedemand, L. and Mogensen, O. (2016) Change in Preoperative Nervousness: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Gynecological Cancer Patients. Health, 8, 219-229. doi: 10.4236/health.2016.83025.