[Anxiolytic effect of preoperative showing of "anesthesia video" for surgical patients].

Over 60% of preoperative surgical patients are reported to suffer from preoperative anxiety. Since 1986, an anesthesia video, explaining our routine anesthesia procedures has been shown to elective surgical patients preoperatively at our clinic. In 1990, as our anesthesia method was modified, we revised this video and evaluated the effect of this video on their preoperative anxiety. Female patients, in general, have much more anxiety than male patients, and the female patients of 30-59 years of age were the most anxious about their surgical operations not about anesthesia per se. The patients who were to undergo a major surgery, such as gynecological patients also belonged to the most anxious patient group. After demonstrating the video any patient group including gynecological patients of 30-59 years of age was less anxious about the upcoming anesthesia and surgery.