The impact of therapeutic relationship on preoperative and postoperative patient anxiety

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Model on preoperative and postoperative patient anxiety.

Design: The study used a randomised clinical trial design.

Setting: The sample of this study consisted of 120 patients who attended the surgery clinic at Atatürk University Hospital in Erzurum, Turkey between 1 June and 30 October 2004.

Subjects: The patients were randomly assigned to the study group (n=60) and the control group (n=60).

Interventions: Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Model intervention was implemented with the study group.

Main Outcome Measure: The effectiveness of Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Model intervention with preoperative and postoperative patient’s level of anxiety.

Results: The level anxiety of patients in the study group  decreased considerably preoperatively. There was a statistically significant difference between the study group and the control group in terms of the mean anxiety score postoperatively and before discharge from the hospital.

Conclusion: The researchers concluded that decreased patient anxiety was likely to be associated with intervention based on Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Model. Peplau’s model can be recommended as an intervention for nurses to improve patient care by decreasing anxiety in the preoperative and postoperative period.