Little is known about the multimedia-based preoperative nursing visit for squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VAST). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of preoperative multimedia-based nursing visit on perioperative anxiety in ESCC patients undergoing VAST. A total of 128 ESCC patients undergoing VAST were randomly divided into intervention group (n = 63) or control group (n = 65). The anxiety level was measured by state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and visual analog scale (VAS). The vital signs were also recorded. The data were collected at three different time points: before the intervention, 1 h before surgery and 24 h after surgery. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline STAI score, VAS scores and vital signs (P > 0.05). The intervention group reported significantly lower anxiety and improved vital signs in terms of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate at 1 h before surgery and 24 h after surgery (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference in respiratory rate was observed between two groups at 1 h before surgery and 24 h after surgery (P > 0.05). Preoperative nursing visit with multimedia could reduce perioperative anxiety levels as well as help to stabilize vital sign for ESCC patients undergoing VAST.
Keywords: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; multimedia; nursing visit; perioperative anxiety; vital signs.