Comparative investigation of the effectiveness of face‑to‑face verbal training and educational pamphlets on readiness of patients before undergoing non‑emergency surgeries

The thought of having a surgery can be stressful for everyone. Providing the necessary information to the patient can help both the patient and the treatment team. This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of face‑to‑face verbal training and educational pamphlets on the readiness of patients for undergoing non‑emergency surgeries.

The study was a before–after randomized clinical trial. 90 patients scheduled to undergo non‑emergency surgery who referred to Shahrekord Ayatollah Kashani Hospital in 2013 were distributed randomly and gradually into two experimental groups (group of face‑to‑face verbal training and group of educational pamphlet) and one control group. Dependent variable of the study was pre‑surgery readiness. Data analysis was carried out by using SPSS statistical software. Statistical analysis were analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation test.

Results showed that the mean scores of pre‑surgery readiness in both interventional groups were significantly higher than that in the control group after the intervention (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups (P > 0.05).

Each of the methods of face‑to‑face verbal education and using the pamphlet could be equally effective in improving the readiness of the patients undergoing surgery. Therefore, in environments where the health care providers are facing with the pressure of work and lack of sufficient time for face‑to‑face verbal training, suitable educational pamphlets can be used to provide the necessary information to patients and prepare them for surgery.