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