Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of preoperative information on postoperative state anxiety, plasma cortisol, and pain for patients under total knee arthroplasty, and to provide generic data with nursing intervention for total knee arthroplasty.
METHODS
Data were collected from 34 patients who had total knee arthroplasty from January 3, 2003 to January 15, 2004. An experiment group of 17 patients was provided with pre-operative information prepared by the researchers; a control group of another 17 patients was provided with general information. Data were analyzed through Chi-squared test, t-test, paired t-test and ANCOVA using SPSS WIN 11.0.
RESULTS
There was no significant differences between the experiment group and the control group in post operative state anxiety(p=.612). However, there was statistically a significant difference between the above two groups in post operative plasma cortisol(p=.012). There was a statistically significant difference between the above two groups in post operative pain(p=.041).
CONCLUSION
According to the results of the study, the authors concluded that the preoperative information for patients under total knee arthroplasty had the effect on the decrease of postoperative plasma cortisol and pain.

• Keywords: Anxiety; Plasma cortisol; Pain; Preoperative information; Knee arthroplasty