The effect of pre‐operative psychological interventions on post‐operative outcomes in Chinese women having an elective hysterectomy

Objective: To test the effect of cognitive interventions with information given pre‐operatively on post‐operative outcomes in Chinese women undergoing elective hysterectomies. Design: An experimental design. The experimental group ( n =48) received cognitive distraction and cognitive reappraisal with information, the control group ( n =48) received information only. Outcome measures: Post‐operative anxiety (Chinese State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory and mean arterial blood pressure), post‐operative requests for analgesia (drug record), post‐operative pain (visual analogue scale) and satisfaction (Chinese Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire). Results: Cognitive distraction and reappraisal with information produced lower post‐operative anxiety and pain scores and higher levels of satisfaction than information only. Post‐operative analgesic requests did not differ between groups. Conclusions: Cognitive distraction and reappraisal with information, when used with women undergoing a hysterectomy may have significant clinical benefits.