Summary
This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesised evidence from 22 randomised controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative education in improving perioperative outcomes for cardiac surgery patients. Preoperative education demonstrated large significant effects in reducing preoperative anxiety and ICU length of stay, and substantially improving patient knowledge, alongside small but significant improvements in postoperative anxiety, depression, and care satisfaction. The findings suggest preoperative education is a feasible clinical intervention to enhance outcomes in cardiac surgery, though the authors note that future research should explore knowledge retention mechanisms more thoroughly.
UK applicability
These findings are directly applicable to UK cardiac surgery programmes, as the evidence base comprises international trials and the outcomes measured align with National Health Service quality metrics and cardiac rehabilitation standards. UK cardiac centres could consider implementing or strengthening preoperative education protocols based on this evidence of effectiveness in reducing anxiety, complications, and ICU length of stay.
Key measures
Preoperative anxiety (post-intervention), postoperative anxiety, depression, knowledge acquisition, pain intensity, pain interference with daily activities, postoperative complications, length of ICU stay, length of hospitalisation, satisfaction with intervention and care, health-related quality of life
Outcomes reported
The study measured the effectiveness of preoperative education on multiple perioperative outcomes including anxiety, depression, pain, knowledge, postoperative complications, length of hospital and ICU stay, satisfaction, and health-related quality of life in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Data were synthesised from 22 randomised controlled trials involving 3167 participants.
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