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

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of preoperative education on anxiety and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing elective hip or knee arthroplasty.

Approach:

Key Findings:

Preoperative education modestly reduced anxiety and postoperative pain.
No significant impact on discharge timing, complications, or quality of life.
Multi-component educational approaches were more beneficial for patients with higher baseline anxiety.

Interpretation:

While the reduction in anxiety was small, it may still hold clinical relevance due to its association with postoperative outcomes such as analgesic use and rehabilitation engagement.

Limitations:

Heterogeneity across studies may affect the generalizability of findings.
Magnitude of anxiety reduction may not be clinically significant for all patients.

Conclusion:

Preoperative education should be targeted and integrated into existing recovery programs, focusing on anxious or high-risk patients, with future studies emphasizing clearer intervention descriptions and standardized outcomes.