title: Increased preoperative knowledge reduces surgery-related anxiety: a randomised clinical trial in 100 spinal stenosis patients.
abstract: To assess the impact of preoperative knowledge on anxiety, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), disability, and pain in surgically treated spinal stenosis patients.
  
  
  
  One hundred patients were randomised into an intervention group (IG, n = 50) or control group (CG, n = 50). Both groups received routine preoperative patient education. IG additionally underwent a feedback session based on a knowledge test. Primary outcome measure was anxiety at the time of surgery. HRQoL, disability, and pain constituted the secondary outcome measures during a 6-month follow-up.
  
  
  
  In IG, a significant reduction in anxiety was noted after the intervention, whereas in CG, anxiety reduced only after the surgery. In both groups, a significant improvement in HRQoL, disability, and pain was noticed at the 6-month follow-up, but there were no between-group differences.
  
  
  
  Higher knowledge level may reduce preoperative anxiety but does not seem to affect the self-reported clinical outcomes of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland. jpkesa@utu.fi.|Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland. jpkesa@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kesänen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland.|Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leino-Kilpi
authors.affiliation: Helsinki University Hospital, Jorvi Hospital, Espoo, Finland.
authors.forename: Teija
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.affiliation: Orton Orthopaedic Hospital and Research Institute, Orton Foundation, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montin
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Pauli
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puukka
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Valkeapää
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Anxiety; Disability; Health-related quality of life; Knowledge level; Spinal stenosis surgery