Summary
The object of this study was to investigate the assumption that a detailed explanation
and description of gastroscopy to a patient reduces his fears of the procedure. In
order to check this assumption, 243 consecutive patients who underwent elective gastroscopy
were randomly distributed to 4 groups: Group A received a standard brief description
of upper G-I endoscopy by the treating physician; Group B patients were given a detailed
description by the endoscopist himself; Group C was given a comprehensive explanation
and was shown an album of pictures illustrating each stage of the procedure; Group
D saw a specially prepared video film of the procedure. A fifth group, E, consisted
of patients who had previously undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patient
anxiety was measured using the “Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Scales”. According
to the scoring on these scales there was no significant difference between the groups,
thus showing that increasingly detailed description of the procedure did not diminish
patients' fear. Neither did ethnic background or age have any significant influence
on these results. Higher education had marginal influence on patients' apprehension
about the procedure. However, female patients had significantly higher anxiety state
and trait anxiety scoring than men. If endoscopy can be taken as typically representative
of all invasive procedures, these results may have a much more general application.
Key words:
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy - Gastroscopy - Anxiety - Fear of endoscopy - Psychological
preparation for endoscopy
