The Effect of Preoperative Preparation Program on Preoperative Anxiety among Older Adults with Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This pilot study explored the feasibility of a preoperative preparation intervention for older adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and compared mean preoperative anxiety scores at baseline, 3 weeks post-intervention, and 4 weeks post-intervention. Purposive sampling was used to select 10 older adults diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis who were scheduled for total knee replacement. Ten participants completed a four-week preoperative preparation program. Feasibility was evaluated based on recruitment, adherence, retention rates, and anxiety. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the State Anxiety Inventory (Form Y-1), which demonstrated a reliability coefficient of 0.81. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a one-way repeated-measures ANOVA.

The study results showed that all 10 approached participants enrolled, resulting in a 100 percent recruitment rate. Retention and adherence rates were also 100 percent, with every participant completing the pre-intervention assessment and the three-week and four-week post-intervention assessments. For anxiety, the average preoperative anxiety scores at baseline, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks post-intervention differed significantly (p < 0.05). Pairwise comparisons using the Bonferroni method indicated that anxiety scores at 3 weeks (mean = 37.90) and 4 weeks (mean = 24.70) were significantly lower than at baseline (mean = 54.00). The findings indicate that recruiting and retaining participants for a preoperative preparation intervention is feasible, and the program is well accepted among those scheduled for TKA. A large-scale evaluation will determine the intervention's effectiveness on preoperative anxiety among older adults.