Table 2 Summary of the relevant surgical outcomes observed in the selected studies. Methods and scales used for outcome measurements appear in brackets
Years | First author | Sample size (pts) | Type of study | Type of intervention | Type of population | Relevant findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | Roykulcharoen V et al. (2004) | 102 | RCT | Relaxation therapy | Abdominal surgery | The relaxation group had significantly less post-test sensation and distress of pain than the control group (VAS reduction: 56% vs 5%, p < 0.001); furthermore, the relaxation group had less anxiety (STAI reduction 9.6% vs 5.5%) or less than 6-h opioid intake (8.1 vs 7.5 mg), although without statistical significance. |
2005 | Lin L et al. (2005) | 62 | RCT | Coping strategies | Abdominal surgery | Compared to the control group, patients in the coping group experienced a significant decrease in preoperative anxiety (mean VASA: 3 vs 4.7, p < 0.001) and lower pain intensity (mean modified APSPO Questionnaire: 4.1 vs 5.1, p < 0.05) in the first postoperative day. |
2010 | Good M et al. (2010) | 517 | RCT | Relaxation therapy | Abdominal surgery | Perioperative relaxation significantly reduced pain in the first (effect in VAS reduction 24%, p = 0.001) and in the second (effect in VAS reduction 25%, p = 0.04) postoperative days. |
2012 | Broadbent E et al.(2012) | 60 | RCT | Relaxation therapy | Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Lower anxiety and stress were observed in the relaxation group compared to the control group from pre-intervention to 7-day follow-up (mean PSS reduction 2.5 vs 0.5, p < 0.05). |
2013 | Zhang X et al. (2013) | 60 | RCT | Coping strategies and behavioural therapies | Oesophageal cancer | Compared to the control group, patients treated with coping and behavioral therapies had lower anxiety (SCL-90 score 1.6 vs 2, p < 0.05) and overall psychological distress (GSI 1.6 vs 1.8, p < 0.05). |
2013 | Rejeh N et al. (2013) | 124 | RCT | Relaxation therapy | Abdominal surgery | Compared to the control group, patients treated with relaxation techniques had lower pain (VAS: 1.9 vs 3.6, p < 0.001), anxiety (anxiety score: 2.5 vs 3.7, p < 0.001) and opioids requirements (p = 0.04). |
2015 | Hansen M et al. (2015) | 105 | RCT | Relaxation therapy | Abdominal and urological one day surgery | Relaxation techniques were not statistically associated with reduction in postoperative anxiety (STAI preop/postop: 2.2/3.3, p > 0.05) and pain (NRS preop/postop: 2.2/2.8, p > 0.05). |
2015 | Hizli F et al. (2015) | 64 | RCT | Hypnosis | TRUS-Guided Prostate Needle Biopsy | Compared to the control group, patients treated with hypnosis had significantly lower pain (VAS 1 vs 3, p = 0.011) and anxiety (BAI: 6 vs 2, p < 0.001, and HAS 11 vs 6, p < 0.001). |
2019 | Sockalingam S et al. (2019) | 43 | Observational prospective pre/post study | Cognitive behavioural therapies | Abdominal surgery | Tele-cognitive behavioural therapies delivered 1-year post-intervention improved psychological distress (PHQ-9 pre/post 12.4/9, p = 0.02) and anxiety (GAD-7 pre/post: 13.4/5.5, p < 0.005). |