Effect of Pre-operative Nursing Education on Anxiety Levels of Surgical Patients at National Hospital, Abuja

Background: Preoperative anxiety is a common psychological response that can adversely affect surgical outcomes, recovery time, and patient experience. Nurse-led education interventions have shown promise in reducing anxiety. Aim: This study examined the effect of structured preoperative nursing education on anxiety levels of adult surgical patients at National Hospital, Abuja, North Central Nigeria. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design was employed with 80 elective surgical patients allocated into experimental and control groups. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered before and after an individualised nursing education session. Data were analysed using paired t-tests and independent sample t-tests. Results: The experimental group recorded a statistically significant reduction in state anxiety scores following the educational intervention (p = 0.001). Control group scores showed no meaningful change. Patients' most common anxiety sources were fear of anaesthesia, surgical complications, and post-operative pain. Conclusion: Structured preoperative education by nurses effectively reduces anxiety in surgical patients. Hospitals should integrate standardised patient education protocols into preoperative care pathways. Keywords: preoperative anxiety, surgical patients, nursing education, Abuja, anxiety reduction.