The effect of preoperative relaxation exercises on anxiety level

Surgery affects patients regardless of their size, physiologically, behaviorally and psychologically and causes anxiety in patients. If anxiety is not taken under control, it causes problems in patients at every stage of surgery. This study was performed before buried dental surgery to investigate the effect of relaxation exercises on anxiety level and physiological parameters (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate). This study was conducted randomly controlled and quasi-experimental between 02.03.2017 and 01.02.2018. The sample of the study consisted of 130 patients who were accepted to participate in the study. In the preoperative period, 65 patients in the experimental group were allowed to perform the prograssive relaxation exercises by listening 30 minutes. Control group 65 patients waited for 30 minutes in the same environment. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, respiration rate, anxiety levels and post-treatment satisfaction levels were evaluated at before and after application. The findings were interpreted at a level of 0.05 significance level of 95% confidence interval. In the study, the mean anxiety scores of the patients in the experimental group were significantly lower than the control group (p<0.001). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate were statistically significant differences in the experimental and control groups (p<0.001). Pre-operative relaxation exercises were found to be effective on physiological parameters such as anxiety level, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate. It was concluded that satisfaction was higher in the experimental group. Keywords: Anxiety, relaxation exercises, surgical patient, preoperative period, embedded teeth