Effectiveness of Preoperative Education and Music Intervention on Postoperative Outcomes among Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery: A Quasi-experimental Study

Introduction: The preoperative phase includes various procedures that aim at the patient’s physical and psychological preparation to promote postoperative recovery. Preoperative education and music intervention may play an important role in improving the postoperative outcomes.
Aim: To study the effectiveness of preoperative education and music intervention on postoperative outcomes, such as anxiety and pain, and to assess the satisfaction of patients, regarding surgical experience on discharge. Study also aims to initiate early feeding and its effects on postoperative recovery.

Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in Surgical Wards of Yenepoya Medical College Hospital, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India, between January 2021. A total of 52 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were selected and divided into intervention and control groups. Two days before the surgery, patients in the intervention group were given preoperative education and were encouraged to listen to preferred music in the evening. Music intervention was given for two days before the surgery and continued in the postoperative phase for three days. Immediately after the music intervention, the anxiety was assessed by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and severity of pain using numerical rating scale. Early feeding was initiated postoperatively and the patients were observed for discomfort and complications. The patients satisfaction was evaluated for their surgical experience on discharge using a patient satisfaction questionnaire. An independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the variables between the groups.

Results: The mean age in the intervention group was 43.46±14.89 years and control group 44.07±12.64 years. The majority of subjects in the both groups were males. A reduction in anxiety scores was observed among patients in the intervention group that was statistically significant (p<0.05) at preoperative day 1, 2, postoperative day 1, 2 and 3. The mean pain scores decreased from preoperative day 1 to postoperative day 3 in the intervention group than in the control group. In the intervention group, 7.7% of the patients received oral feed within an hour of surgery whereas, 26.9% were in the fourth hour and 26.9% were in the sixth hour of surgery. They did not report discomfort and complications such as nausea and vomiting. In the intervention group, the mean satisfaction was 60.30±5.00, indicating a higher level of satisfaction among patients.

Conclusion: Preoperative education and music intervention reduces the severity of anxiety and pain. Early oral feeding is safer and effective in patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery. These interventions help in improving the postoperative outcomes and satisfaction with surgical experience.