Effects of Nurse-Led Educational Interventions on Patients’ Anxiety and Satisfaction in a Pre-Operative Cardiac Unit

Abstract

Background: Preoperative anxiety is common among cardiac surgery patients and is associated with adverse physiological and psychological outcomes. Nurse-led educational interventions may offer a practical, non-pharmacological strategy to reduce anxiety and enhance patient satisfaction by improving knowledge, confidence, and emotional preparedness before surgery. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a structured, nurse-led preoperative educational intervention on anxiety levels and patient satisfaction among adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Methods: A quasi-experimental one-group pre-test/post-test study was conducted over six months in the preoperative cardiac unit of a tertiary hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Forty adult patients meeting inclusion criteria were recruited via purposive sampling. Anxiety and satisfaction were assessed using a validated, interviewer-administered Likert-scale questionnaire. The intervention consisted of a standardized, individualized education session covering surgical preparation, procedural expectations, and postoperative care. Pre- and post-intervention anxiety scores were compared using paired-sample t-tests, with 95% confidence intervals and effect sizes calculated. Results: Participants’ mean total anxiety score decreased from 21.85 (SD 5.62) to 19.05 (SD 4.31), yielding a mean difference of −2.80 (95% CI −4.44 to −1.16; p=0.001; Cohen’s d=0.55). Large, statistically significant improvements were observed in procedural understanding (+42.5 percentage points), confidence in hospital staff (+35.0 percentage points), and perceived preparedness (+35.0 percentage points). No significant differences in post-intervention satisfaction scores were found across gender, age, or education level. Conclusion: A nurse-led preoperative educational intervention significantly reduced anxiety and enhanced knowledge, confidence, and satisfaction among elective cardiac surgery patients. Integrating such interventions into standard care protocols may improve perioperative readiness and patient experience.