Proper information during the surgical decision-making process lowers the anxiety of patients with high-grade gliomas

Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2009 Apr;151(4):357-62. doi: 10.1007/s00701-009-0195-7. Epub 2009 Feb 18.

Abstract

Purpose: We aim to analyse the relationship between the quality of information during the decision-making process regarding surgery to treat high-grade gliomas and the level of anxiety of the patients.

Methods: This is a transversal, descriptive and correlational study on 26 patients with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of high-grade glioma. They scored the quality (in terms of comprehension and satisfaction) of information received about the treatment options and prognosis during the surgical decision-making process, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire (HADS) was applied immediately afterward.

Results: Lower levels of anxiety were observed in patients who showed a desire to receive information regarding their illness, those with a higher degree of comprehension, and those with a higher level of satisfaction with the information provided.

Conclusions: An improvement in the communication process contributes to a decrease in the levels of anxiety, and consequently to enhancement of the well-being of these patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anxiety / prevention & control*
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Attitude to Death
  • Attitude to Health
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Brain Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery
  • Decision Making / ethics*
  • Depression / prevention & control
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Glioma / diagnosis
  • Glioma / psychology*
  • Glioma / surgery
  • Humans
  • Informed Consent / psychology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / psychology
  • Patient Education as Topic / methods*
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Prognosis
  • Quality of Life / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires