Görsel Ve Yazili Bi̇lgi̇lendi̇rmeni̇n Peri̇odontal Cerrahi̇ Öncesi̇ Ve Sonrasi Anksi̇yete Sevi̇yeleri̇ne Etki̇si̇

Abstract

Aim: Patients feel different degrees of anxiety and fear, before any dental surgery operation. To give information about the operation may reduce anxiety levels. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of visual and written information on preoperative and postoperative anxiety in patients decided to undergo periodontal surgery. Material and Methods: Two hundred patients who were referred to our clinic for periodontal surgery were included in the study. Patients were divided into visual and written informed group. The patients in the visual group were informed by a brochure of the pictures while the individuals in the written group were informed by a standard written information form. Prior to the operation, the anxiety levels of all patients were determined using the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). STAI questionnaire was repeated to determine postoperative anxiety levels. In addition, postoperative pain scores of the patients were assessed by VAS (Visual Analogue Scale). Results: In both groups, postoperative anxiety levels were significantly lower than preoperative anxiety levels. Also, the preoperative anxiety levels were significantly lower in visual information group compared with written. There was no significant difference between anxiety levels and age, sex, duration of surgery, education and VAS. Conclusion: According to our study, visual information about the operation has positive effects on reducing the anxiety levels. We believe that addition of simple image catalogs to standard information forms can reduce the anxiety of patients.