The effect of familiarization with preoperative care on anxiety and vital signs in the patient’s cesarean section: A randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION: Cesarean section (C-section) is one of the most prevalent surgeries among women. The preoperative stages in the surgery day and lack of control over being in an unfamiliar situation and feeling danger cause anxiety, and consequently, instability in patients. This study aimed to determine the effect of familiarization with preoperative nursing care on anxiety and vital signs of patients in cesarean section. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial study was performed on 80 pregnant candidates for C-section in Hamadan Fatemieh Hospital, Iran, in 2020. Patients were randomly divided into control (n=40) and intervention (n=40) groups. The control group just received the routine intervention of the hospital, but the intervention group, in addition, received the two familiarizing sessions with preoperative nursing care. Data were collected via vital signs sheet and Spielberger situational anxiety questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS16 software at a significance level of p=0.05. RESULTS: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the mean anxiety scores of the control and intervention groups, and the two groups were homogeneous (p=0.396). However, after the intervention, the mean anxiety of the intervention group decreased significantly (p=0.001) and increased in the control group (p=0.600); and the mean post-test of the two groups showed a significant difference (p=0.001). After the intervention, the mean heart rate, respiration rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the intervention group decreased significantly (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in heart rate and systolic blood pressure of the control group (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study we conclude that familiarity with preoperative care reduces the level of anxiety and stabilized the level of vital signs parameters.