The Effects of applying Nursing Counseling Program on the Anxiety and Vital Signs of Patients undergoing Colonoscopy admitted in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran

Increasing anxiety level prior to the procedure may be associated with a decrease in the level of tolerance and the occurrence of physiological complications. In order to reduce stress during medical procedures, behavioral and cognitive techniques are recommended. Nursing counseling and providing essential information about the procedure to the patient is a common technique. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nursing counseling program on the anxiety and vital signs of patients under colonoscopy. This single-blind clinical trial was performed on 74 patients undergoing colonoscopy referring to the Colonoscopy Unit of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. After obtaining the ethical approval from the Shahed University ethics committee, patients who had the inclusion criteria and signed the informed consent were randomly assigned to intervention (n=37) and control (n=37) groups. Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used the day before the colonoscopy to investigate momentary emotional status that results from situational stress. Vital signs were recorded as well. Then counseling and education were provided individually, verbally and face-to-face for a half hour (the day before the procedure) and ten minutes (the day of conducting procedure) in the intervention group. All investigations were repeated immediately before colonoscopy in two groups. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics (T-test, Paired t-test, Chi-square test) using SPSS software version 16. At the beginning of the study, two groups were homogeneous for demographic variables (P> 0.05). The mean of situational anxiety scores in the intervention group significantly decreased after the intervention compared to the control group (p = 0.005). Also, the systolic blood pressure and respiratory rate in the experimental group significantly decreased before the colonoscopy. In the control group, systolic blood pressure and respiratory rate increased significantly. Considering the effectiveness of nursing counseling on decreasing the level of anxiety and vital signs of the patients, it is suggested that structured counseling be provided in the patient care plan for candidates for colonoscopy and other aggressive procedures.