NURSING STRATEGY TO REDUCE PATIENT ANXIETY IN ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURES: RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a significant structured follow-up nursing intervention to reduce anxiety in patients undergoing upper digestive endoscopy in a public hospital in the Biobío Region, Chile. Material and Method: Randomized, single-blind clinical trial, with evaluation by third parties, carried out between January and June 2021, with a sample consisting of 126 patients. The instruments and hemodynamic parameters that measured sociodemographic, psychological, physiological, and biochemical variables were: Sociodemographic Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire, Visual Analog Scale, heart rate, systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressure (BP), pulse oximetry, glycemia and blood potassium. The intervention consisted of the visual and tactile presence of a significant companion, before, during, and after the endoscopic procedure. Data analysis with SPSS v.18 considered descriptive and inferential statistics (p value= 5%) with T-Student and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Average age 52 years, completed secondary education, married with children; there were significant differences in psychological variables (p< 0.05) in the three stages, physiological variables (mean (p= 0.0025) and diastolic (p= 0.0002) intra-procedure BP, mean (p= 0.0021) and diastolic (p= 0.0021) post-procedure BP, average or median pulse (p< 0.05) in the pre (p= 0.0035) and post-endoscopic procedures (p= 0.0003). No significant differences were observed in pulse oximetry and biochemical variables. Conclusion: Through significant follow-up, simple, easy, low-cost and non-pharmacological intervention, patient anxiety and risk were reduced, user satisfaction and the health team/community relationship were improved.