Efficacy of relaxation techniques in reducing preoperative anxiety and fear in general surgery patients: A quasi-experimental study

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the effect of relaxation techniques in reducing fear and anxiety in patients in need of general surgery. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a pre-post control group design was conducted on 120 patients requiring general surgery at Saman Al-Hojjaj Hospital in Sirjan County. Patients were selected using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to the intervention group ( n = 60) and control group ( n = 60). The intervention group was taught box breathing and progressive muscle relaxation techniques by a senior psychiatric nursing expert for 15–20 min every 4 h until surgery. The control group received routine care for surgery. Data on fear and anxiety outcomes were collected using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Surgical Fear Questionnaire. Results: The intervention group had a mean total fear score of 29.27 ± 12.69 compared to 37.20 ± 16.39 in the control group ( P = 0.012), with significant reductions in both short-term (13.57 ± 5.93 vs. 15.98 ± 8.90; P = 0.209, Cohen’s d = 0.32) and long-term (15.70 ± 7.19 vs. 21.22 ± 9.11; P = 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.66) fear components (total fear: P =0.012, Cohen’s d = 0.54). The total anxiety score was 91.88 ± 6.28 in the control group and 93.60 ± 3.62 in the intervention group, with trait anxiety significantly reduced in the intervention group ( P = 0.039, Cohen’s d = 0.41) postintervention, but no significant change in state anxiety ( P = 0.577, Cohen’s d = 0.16). Conclusions: Relaxation techniques significantly alleviate preoperative psychological distress, effectively reducing fear and anxiety in general surgery patients. These cost-effective, non-invasive methods enhance recovery and reduce healthcare costs. We recommend training healthcare providers to implement these techniques for optimal patient outcomes.