Do Education Programs Reduce Anxiety Before Arthroplasty?

Systematic review finds modest reductions in anxiety and pain, but limited impact on other outcomes

By
Henry Thomas
February 12, 2026
2 min

Conexiant

Overview

Revise to emphasize the modest impact of education on discharge timing and complications.

Background

Preoperative anxiety is a common concern among patients undergoing elective surgeries, particularly arthroplasties. Understanding the role of educational interventions in alleviating anxiety can enhance patient outcomes and optimize recovery pathways. This topic is crucial as it addresses both psychological and physical aspects of surgical care.

Data Highlights

Outcome	Effect Size (SMD)	Confidence Interval (CI)
Preoperative Anxiety	-0.37	-0.63 to -0.11
Postoperative Pain	-0.31	-0.47 to -0.15

Key Findings

Preoperative education led to a small but statistically significant reduction in anxiety.
Similar benefits were observed for patient knowledge and self-reported postoperative pain.
No clear impact on length of stay, postoperative complications, or quality of life was noted.
Multi-component educational approaches may benefit patients with higher baseline anxiety.
Preoperative education should be viewed as a targeted, adjunctive intervention rather than a universal solution.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare providers should consider implementing targeted preoperative education for patients with high anxiety levels to potentially improve their surgical experience. Educational interventions should be integrated into existing enhanced recovery programs to maximize their effectiveness.

Conclusion

While preoperative education can modestly reduce anxiety and pain, it should not be relied upon to significantly alter clinical endpoints such as discharge timing or complication rates. Future research should focus on optimizing educational strategies for specific patient populations.