A randomized clinical trial of a new perioperative practice model on anxiety and health‐related quality of life in arthroplasty patients

Abstract

Abstract Aims To explore the effectiveness of a new perioperative practice model on anxiety and health‐related quality of life in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty under spinal anaesthesia. Design A randomized clinical trial. Methods Control group participants (N = 222) received standard perioperative care, meaning they were cared for by various nurses during their perioperative process without postoperative visits. Intervention group participants (N = 231) were assigned one named anaesthesia nurse during their entire perioperative process who visited them postoperatively. Both groups responded to two self‐reported questionnaires: the generic 15D health‐related quality of life instrument and the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) measuring anxiety two to three weeks pre‐operatively and three months postoperatively. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the groups at baseline or at follow‐up in health‐related quality of life or anxiety.

Keywords

• anxiety
• continuity
• health‐related quality of life
• nursing
• perioperative practice model
• randomized clinical trial