The impact of an informational video intervention in reducing anxiety and pain in patients undergoing cataract surgery – a clinical trial

Introduction:
People undergoing cataract surgery experience anxiety about the surgical process, aggravating complications such as pain, nausea and longer/long recovery. Presurgical education is essential as part of standardized nursing care. The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of a nursing educational intervention through an informative video to reduce presurgical anxiety.

Material and methods:
The study involved a total of 147 patients who were recruited and participated in the research. These patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups for comparison. The first group, known as the intervention group, consisted of patients who were shown a video designed to provide specific information or guidance relevant to their treatment. The second group, referred to as the control group, received the standard care provided in the clinic, which did not include any additional educational or informational media. Patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control group. Anxiety levels were measured using two validated tools: the Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale and the visual analogue scale for anxiety. The impact of the video intervention on preoperative anxiety and postoperative complications was analyzed.

Results:
59.2% of the subjects were women, 40.8% were men. 77.6% had basic education. 85.7% of the subjects had previous surgeries and 55% classified their anxiety as moderate, at the hospital XX, number 202X/105X0, cost-effective and effective. A 30% reduction in anxiety was observed in the intervention group. Video is recommended by 100% of the patients.

Conclusions:
Audiovisual material is useful in the nursing care process as an educational support tool that improves the surgical experience.