Role of pre-anaesthesia outpatient clinic in reducing pre-operative anxiety.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the level of pre-operative anxiety in patients reporting 1 to 2 weeks before surgery with patients assessed after getting direct admission to ward.


METHODS
A comparative study.


METHODS
The study was carried out at Pakistan Naval Hospital, PNS Shifa, Karachi, from September 2000 to August 2001.


METHODS
Two groups of 20 patients each were studied who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Group-A was assessed in pre-anaesthesia outpatient consultation clinic 1 to 2 weeks prior to surgery and Group-B had pre-anaesthetic assessment on the evening before surgery. The method used to assess anxiety was: the visual analogue scale of anxiety (VAS) and p-value was derived by using Student's t-test.


RESULTS
The anxiety score assessed was lower in group-A, than group-B (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-anesthetic assessment in pre-anesthesia consultation clinic, 1 to 2 weeks before surgery, reduces pre-operative anxiety, when compared with an assessment on the evening before surgery.
Ehsan-ul-Haq
Muhammad
M
Department of Anaesthesia, PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi. ehansanulhaq56@hotmail.com
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010147:Pain Measurement