Vol. 2, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Preoperative anxiety is highly prevalent among adults undergoing surgical procedures and is associated with poorer recovery, increased analgesic requirements, and reduced patient satisfaction. Nurse-led preoperative education is a low-cost, scalable intervention that may mitigate anxiety by improving patients’ understanding and sense of control. This quasi-experimental research evaluated the effectiveness of a structured, nurse-led preoperative education programme in reducing anxiety among adults scheduled for minor elective surgical procedures in a day-surgery setting. A total of 120 adult patients awaiting minor surgery (e.g., hernia repair, cyst excision, diagnostic endoscopy under sedation) were allocated to either an intervention group receiving a standardized nurse-led education session or a control group receiving routine preoperative information. The intervention comprised a 20-25-minute one-to-one session delivered by trained nurses using an illustrated leaflet, covering the surgical process, anaesthesia, postoperative pain management, and recovery expectations, followed by an opportunity for questions. Preoperative anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State) at baseline (surgical listing visit) and on the day of surgery immediately before transfer to the operating room. Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction with preoperative information and self-reported preparedness. Compared with controls, patients in the nurse-led education group showed a significantly greater reduction in mean STAI-State scores from baseline to preoperative assessment, indicating lower anxiety immediately before minor surgery. The proportion of patients with clinically relevant anxiety was also lower in the intervention group. Nurse-led education was associated with higher satisfaction scores and greater perceived preparedness without prolonging preoperative waiting times. The findings suggest that a brief, structured nurse-led preoperative education programme is effective in reducing anxiety before minor surgical procedures and enhances patient experience. Incorporating such interventions into routine preoperative nursing care may represent a practical strategy to improve psychological readiness and optimise perioperative outcomes in day-surgery populations.