The Effectiveness of Warm Hand Bath in Improving Anxiety

Patients undergoing surgery often experience anxiety before the procedure. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of warm water baths in reducing preoperative anxiety levels in middle-aged and elderly patients undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgery. This study utilizes a randomized controlled trial design and focuses on middle-aged and elderly patients undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgery in the orthopedic ward of a medical center in northern Taiwan. The patients are divided into an experimental group and a control group using block randomization. Patients in the experimental group receive a 10-minute warm water bath at 40°C on the evening before surgery as an intervention, while the control group receives standard care. Data are collected from both groups before and after the intervention, including personal information, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Visual Analog Scale for pain assessment, and Visual Analog Scale for relaxation, as well as vital sign measurements. Statistical analysis of the data is conducted using SPSS version 18.0 software, employing mean values, standard deviations, percentages, independent t-tests, chi-square tests, paired-sample t-tests, and generalized estimating equations for data analysis.