Psychological impact of pre-operative education on post-operative health in patients undergoing elective hysterectomy

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the impact of pre-operative education on post-operative psychosocial health. Methods: This study was conducted in a medical teaching hospital in rural area of central India. It was an interventional research in 96 women reporting to the gynecology ward of department of obstetrics and gynecology of a teaching hospital for hysterectomy operation. They were randomly divided into two groups; wherein the patients of one group are imparted with the knowledge of the surgery, its types, surgical procedure, duration, pre-operative preparation, post-operative recovery and effects of the surgery and the other given routine preoperative advice. With the help of HADS (hospital anxiety depression scale), pre-operative as well as post-operative anxiety and depression was assessed. Result: The mean score of intervention group for pre-operative anxiety was 6.81±2.69 as compared to 9.13±3.36 in the control group while post-operative scores were 6.79±3.46 and 9.71±3.16 respectively. In case of depression, there was rise in score in control group from 9.93±4.55 pre-operatively to 10.48±4.82 post-operatively. In intervention group it fell from 8.02±3.46 pre-operatively to 6.85±3.98 post-operatively. Conclusion: These results signify that there is a definite relationship between pre-operative education and postoperative early recovery as the anxiety is lowered and patients are well aware about the consequences of the surgery and are psychological fit to accept the results of the surgery