The Effect of Nurse-led Preoperative Visits on Anxiety: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Purpose

This review aims to investigate the effectiveness of nurse-led preoperative visits for the reduction of presurgical anxiety. The review will explore the patterns and mechanisms through which these visits alleviate anxiety, identify the existing practice gaps, and suggest future directions for improvement. The findings will help health care providers choose appropriate visits for their patients.

Design

An integrative review.

Methods

From January 2000 to July 2023, studies on nurse-led preoperative visits were searched in Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. The search only includes English-language full-text entries. Thirteen articles were selected from the 5,741 studies discovered after the quality was rated using the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tool. The parameters addressed by the 13 articles chosen for evaluation included, but were not limited to, the type of research done, sample characteristics, and the types of interventions used by the researchers.

Findings

Interviews between nurses and patients are the primary and most prevalent means of exchanging information during nurse-led preoperative visits. These interviews can be classified as structured, with a predetermined set of questions, and unstructured, allowing for flexibility and adaptation based on the patient's responses and needs. Audiovisual materials and written materials were provided to assist with the interview. Nurse-led preoperative visits significantly reduce feelings of anxiety by providing patient education on preoperative procedures and routines, improving trust between patients and caregivers, offering emotional support, and promoting informed decision-making through preoperative education.

Conclusions

In clinical practice, the nurse-led preoperative visit is important for lowering preoperative anxiety. The advantages of these visits may be extended to more patients by incorporating innovative methods such as improving the pattern of preoperative visits, prioritizing the nurse's role in preoperative patient visits, and using emerging technology.