Role of pre-operative multimedia video information in allaying anxiety related to spinal anaesthesia: A randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A high incidence of anxiety has been reported in patients in the operation theatre set up. We developed a short visual clip of 206 s duration depicting the procedure of spinal anaesthesia (SAB) and aimed to compare the effect of this video on perioperative anxiety in patients undergoing procedures under SAB. METHODS: A prospective randomised study of 200 patients undergoing surgery under SAB was conducted. Patients were allotted to either the nonvideo group (Group NV - those who were not shown the video) or the video group (Group V - those who were shown the video). Anxiety was assessed using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory during the pre-anaesthetic check-up and before surgery. Haemodynamic parameters such as heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were also noted. Student's t-test was used for normally distributed and Mann–Whitney U-test for nonnormally distributed quantitative data. Chi-square test was used for categorical data. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable with respect to baseline anxiety scores and haemodynamic parameters. The nonvideo group showed a significant increase in state anxiety scores before administration of SAB (P < 0.001). Patients in the video group had significantly lower HR and MAP preoperatively (P < 0.001). The prevalence of ‘high anxiety’ for SAB was 81% in our study which decreased to 66% in the video group before surgery. CONCLUSION: Multimedia information in the form of a short audiovisual clip is an effective and feasible method to reduce perioperative anxiety related to SAB.