Strategies to Relieve Patients' Preoperative Anxiety Before Anesthesia: Experiences of Nurse Anesthetists

Abstract Purpose To investigate nurse anesthetists' experiences of strategies that alleviate adult patients' preoperative anxiety before anesthesia administration. Design The study has a qualitative approach wherein the data were collected through semistructured interviews. The study included interviews with six active nurse anesthetists with at least 5 years of experience who worked in a hospital in southern Sweden. Methods Critical incident technology was used to analyze the data. Findings Four different categories emerged: behavior of nurse anesthetist, preoperatively providing information, diverting attention to create security, and medicine as an alternative. Conclusions Awareness can increase the use of different strategies by both new and experienced nurse anesthetists, as well as by nurses in preoperative units, which in turn alleviates patient anxiety about anesthesia. This may result in a better perioperative experience for the patient.