Effectiveness of an Orientation Programme on the Anxiety Level of Patients Undergoing Gamma Knife Surgery: a Quasi-experimental Study

Abstract

Apart from being diagnosed with disease condition, the unfamiliarity of the environment and uncertainty of the procedure are the major contributors of the anxiety among the patients undergoing gamma knife surgery. Orientation and educational programme regarding diagnosis and treatment modalities of disease condition reduces the anxiety levels among patients as they become familiar to that. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of orientation programme on anxiety level of patients undergoing first time gamma knife surgery. The study was conducted in the gamma knife center of a tertiary care center. Using total enumeration sampling technique, 20 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected. The anxiety was assessed by using anxiety assessment scale before and immediately after gamma knife surgery. As per the anxiety scores the patients were categorized into four levels of anxiety i.e., no (0), mild (1–17), moderate (18–34) and severe (35–51). 19 patients were shifted to mild level of anxiety and there was no patient in the severe level of anxiety after the orientation programme. It was concluded that there was reduction in anxiety level of patients after implementation of orientation programme. So, orientation about the gamma knife surgery is recommended for the patients.

Keywords: Anxiety, gamma knife surgery, orientation programme