Abstract

Background: Preoperative counseling is one for pregnant women help to improve the surgical outcome and also reduce the number of analgesics used. Though it is known that preoperative counseling is effective, there are limited studies to testify to its importance.
Objective: The present study was undertaken to observe the preoperative knowledge about spinal anesthesia on anxiety and pain in patients undergoing cesarean section.
Materials and methods: A total of 60 patients who were elected under CS anesthesia were part of the study after obtaining informed consent. After recording the baseline pain scores, depression, anxiety and stress scores, the participants were randomly grouped into control and intervention groups with 30 participants in each group. Preoperative counseling was offered to the participants of the intervention group. No counseling was offered to the participants of the control group. Post-surgical pain and depression, anxiety and stress scores were recorded in both groups. A visual analog scale was used to record the pain scores. Depression, anxiety and stress scores were recorded using DASS 42.
Results: There was no significant difference in the scores of depressions, anxiety and stress among the control and intervention group participants before the counseling. There was a significant decrease in the depression, anxiety and stress scores in the intervention group participants. Further, a significant decrease was observed in the pain scores also in the participants of the intervention group.
Conclusion: There was a significant decrease in the pain scores, depression, anxiety and stress scores after the surgery in the intervention group participants who underwent the preoperative counseling. The study recommends further detailed study in this area to recommend the implementation of preoperative counseling for the women undergoing cesarean section.