The effect of relaxation exercises before cataract surgery on the anxiety level of lderly individuals

The study was planned as a randomized controlled study to determine the effect of relaxation exercises applied before cataract surgery on the anxiety level of elderly individuals. The study was conducted in an Eye Training and Research Hospital affiliated to the Ministry of Health in Istanbul between November 2022 and June 2023 with 104 patients. Data were collected using the "Patient Information Form", "Standardized Mini Mental Test (SMMT)", "State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)", "Visual Analog Scale (VAS)" and " Vital Signs Follow-up Form". Data were collected by the researcher before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, in the operating room waiting room, just before surgery and during surgery. The data obtained were analyzed with appropriate statistical methods. The mean age of the individuals was 71.72±4.20 years, the mean SMMT score was 26.36±0.79, and the mean BMI was 26.49±2. 12, 57.7% were male, 81.7% were married, 67.4% were primary school graduates, 87.5% had an income equal to their expenses, 83.7% had chronic diseases, the majority did not smoke (58.7%) and did not drink alcohol (83.7%), 57.7% (n=60) were premedicated before surgery, and 55.8% (n=58) would undergo surgery on the right eye. There was no difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of individual characteristics, disease and treatment-related characteristics (p>0.05). According to the relaxation exercises performed immediately after the intervention and in the waiting room of the operating room, it was determined that the state anxiety level of the experimental group was significantly lower (difference of 2-3 units) at all measurement times compared to the control group (p<0.01). While there was no difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of body temperature values before and immediately after the intervention (p>0.05), a significant difference (0.1 unit) was determined in terms of operating room waiting room body temperature values (p<0.01). In the analysis performed in terms of pulse rate (7 units), respiratory rate (2 units), and oxygen saturation (1.3 units), a significant difference was observed between the experimental and control groups at all measurement times except before the intervention (p<0.001). In line with these results, relaxation exercises applied to elderly individuals before cataract surgery are recommended to be used because of their positive effects on anxiety levels and vital signs.