Effect of video-based information on preoperative State trait anxiety inventory scores in adult patients presenting for elective caesarean section: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Preoperative anxiety is a common occurrence in patients presenting for surgery with a reported incidence of up to 80%. Increased preoperative anxiety has been associated with increased morbidity. Provision of information relating to surgery and anaesthesia to patients has been proven to have benefit in allaying anxiety. However, the best format of information dissemination remains unknown. Objective: To determine the effect of video information in addition to the pre-anaesthetic review on the mean preoperative State anxiety inventory (STAI-S) score in adult patients presenting for elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUHN), and to determine the prevalence of preoperative anxiety in the obstetric population presenting for elective caesarean section at AKUHN. Methods: Thirty-seven adult patients booked for elective caesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the study arm; a video was shown to the participants in addition to the standard pre-anaesthetic review. In the control arm the participants only had a standard pre-anaesthetic review. Results: The mean STAI-T score in the sampled population was 45.64 (SD 5.625). The mean baseline STAI-S score was 46.32 (SD 4.911). There was no statistically significant difference in change in STAI score between the video and control arms (p>0.05). Conclusion: On the basis of this study among this population, there was no benefit demonstrated from the use of an information video about spinal anaesthesia on anxiety levels in obstetric patients presenting for a first time spinal.