The Effect of Non-Pharmacological Measures on Anxiety before Surgical operation: A Systematic Review

Surgery is one of the most common methods of treating many diseases which is known as an anxious experience for patients. Treatment of anxiety is important due adverse consequences in patients undergoing surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of non-pharmacological measures on patientschr('39') anxiety before surgery.

In this study, systematic review of information from databases, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Magiran, SID, Civilica, Iranmedex, with keywords anxiety, music therapy, massage therapy, education, counseling, aromatherapy, and non-pharmacological interventions from 2000-2020.

Out of 338 articles, 41 articles were selected and analyzed. These studies have introduced methods including educating and informing the patient, aromatherapy, massage therapy, listening to music and performing preoperative counseling as effective methods of non-pharmacological treatments for preoperative anxiety.

The findings show that the use of various non-pharmacological methods, especially massage, listening to music and aromatherapy to treat preoperative anxiety in patients is very effective and efficient and has a significant effect on reducing the anxiety of patients who are candidates for surgery. Also, the use of these methods reduces the use of sedatives and the side effects of their use.