Nurse‐led web‐based patient education reduces anxiety in thyroidectomy patients: A randomized controlled study

Aim The aim of this study was to determine the effect of web‐based patient education on anxiety in patients scheduled for thyroid surgery. A secondary aim was to evaluate the patients' postoperative recovery outcomes. Design This study is a randomized controlled trial. Method The study was conducted at a university hospital in Turkey between September 2018 and May 2019 with 76 patients scheduled for thyroidectomy surgery and randomly assigned into two groups. Patients in the intervention group received web‐based education, while those in the control group were given only routine care. Measurements were performed before surgery, on the day of surgery, and 1 week after discharge. Results On the day of surgery, intervention group anxiety levels were lower than those of the control group, and the majority of early recovery parameters were significantly better in the intervention group than in the control group. One week after discharge, the intervention group patients' anxiety levels were significantly lower. Web‐based education had no impact on pain, time in the operating room, readmission to the hospital after discharge, or length of hospitalization. Conclusions Nurse‐led web‐based education reduced patients' anxiety regarding surgery. The results also show that it may improve postoperative early recovery. Summary statement What is already known about this topic? Preoperative anxiety can be associated with numerous symptoms, and recovery time may be prolonged but preoperative information is effective in reducing patient anxiety and hastening early recovery. Nurses have active roles in patient education and the information given by the nurse during preparation for surgery process can positively impact patient health outcomes. As technology has advanced, methods used by patients for acquiring information have changed, and written materials have been replaced by online platforms. What this paper adds? Nurse‐led patient education can exert positive effects on surgical patients. Web‐based education reduces patients' anxiety about surgery compared with the traditional approach. The implications of this paper: Nurse‐led web‐based patient education can be a useful method for reducing patients' anxiety and improving early recovery. Nurses can use this research to develop innovative approaches to the education of perioperative patients.