Effect of slow deep breathing therapy on preoperative anxiety
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56922/mhc.v5i5.4274
Anxiety Mental Health Non-Pharmacological Intervention Preoperative Patients Slow Deep Breathing Therapy
Abstract
Background: Anxiety is commonly experienced by patients before surgery and may affect their psychological and physiological condition during the perioperative period. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as slow deep breathing (SDB) therapy, may help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation in preoperative patients.
Purpose: To determine the effect of (SDB) therapy on anxiety levels among preoperative patients.
Method: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest control group design. A total of 30 preoperative patients were divided equally into an intervention group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). Anxiety levels were measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) before and after the intervention. The intervention group received (SDB) therapy, while the control group received standard care. Data normality was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, and changes in anxiety levels were evaluated using a paired t-test.
Results: The intervention and control groups each consisted of 15 respondents, with mean ages of 35.1 ± 11.3 and 35.5 ± 11.0 years, respectively. Before the intervention, severe anxiety was more prevalent in the intervention group (33.3%), whereas moderate anxiety predominated in the control group (53.3%). After the intervention, the intervention group showed an improvement in anxiety levels, with 40.0% of respondents reporting no anxiety, 20.0% mild anxiety, 40.0% moderate anxiety, and no respondents with severe anxiety. In the control group, 6.7% reported no anxiety, 60.0% mild anxiety, 26.7% moderate anxiety, and 6.7% severe anxiety after standard care. The Shapiro–Wilk test indicated that all pretest and posttest anxiety data were normally distributed, with p-values ranging from 0.104 to 0.753.
Conclusion: (SDB) therapy was associated with an improvement in anxiety levels among preoperative patients, particularly through the reduction of severe anxiety and the increase in respondents reporting no anxiety. This therapy may be considered a simple, non-pharmacological approach to support anxiety management before surgery.
Keywords: Anxiety; Mental Health; Non-Pharmacological Intervention; Preoperative Patients; Slow Deep Breathing Therapy.
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