Renouf, T., Leary, A., & Wiseman, T. (2014). Do psychological interventions reduce preoperative anxiety? British Journal of Nursing, 23, 1208–1212.

STUDY PURPOSE: To evaluate evidence regarding effects of psychoeducational interventions for preoperative anxiety

• FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED  =  13
• TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW: Not provided
• SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES: Not provided
• KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Not provided, although report does state inclusion of patients with cancer

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

The report suggests that nursing interventions of a psychoeducational nature can reduce preoperative anxiety, based on findings of six randomized, controlled trials conducted from 1985 to 2005. Samples in these studies were self-selected, and the review identifies a number of study design aspects that would create risk of bias, inappropriate statistical analysis, and high volume of missing data and elimination of patients from data analysis. The review also stated that patients benefit from individualized information and have associated reduction in anxiety; however, review of these studies also suggested multiple design flaws, and this finding appears to be based on various authors’ recommendations rather than actual study findings.

There are multiple limitations of this review, and it does not provide strong support for effectiveness of various nursing interventions to reduce preoperative anxiety.

No information is provided about study sample types or actual quality of studies included. Findings stated in the article are not clearly derived from actual research results.

Due to study limitations, this review does not provide strong support for the efficacy of psychoeducational and informational interventions to reduce preoperative anxiety. Provision of preoperative patient education is a necessary component of care, but it may not be sufficient to alleviate anxiety.