Comparing the effects of nursing versus peer-based education methods on the pre-operative anxiety in infertile women: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Pre-operative anxiety is a common event in patients expecting surgery. Training can play an important role in reducing the negative effects of anxiety on the response to treatment. Therefore, identifying the appropriate method is important.Objective: The aim of this study was comparing the effects of nursing versus peer-based education on the pre-operative anxiety in infertile women.Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 198 eligible infertile women were randomized into three groups: the nurse-educated, peer-educated, and the controls. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was filled out by all participants for measuring the patient anxiety at the time of hospital admission and the prior to surgery. Participants in the nurse-educated and peer-educated groups received a group education program by a nurse or peer, respectively, after the initial completion of the STAI. The control group was only educated at the time of their discharge which is part of the section s routines.Results: The mean score anxiety was 44.47, 46.92, and 42.60 at the time of hospital admission and 39.38, 41.06, and 43.42, prior to surgery in nurse-educated, peer-educated, and the control groups, respectively. There was a significant difference in the mean score anxiety in each group before and after the intervention (p<0.0001). However, the difference among the groups was not significant.Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that the nursing and peer education programs reduce the pre-operative anxiety. Hence, making benefit of the peer s potential regarding the compensation for staff shortage for pre-operative education as well as investigating the effect of individual education is suggested for the further studies.

Keywords:

Education , Infertility , Anxiety