Preoperative Anxiety and One-year Patient-reported Outcomes in Orthopedic Surgery Patients Receiving Enhanced Recovery After Surgery or Conventional Care

This study investigates whether an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program can help orthopedic surgery patients feel less anxious before their operation and recover better one year after surgery, compared to conventional (standard) surgical care. Patients who undergo orthopedic surgery, such as joint replacement, often experience significant anxiety before the operation. While ERAS programs, which combine patient education, pain management, and early mobilization, have been shown to shorten hospital stays and reduce complications, less is known about whether they also reduce preoperative anxiety and lead to better long-term outcomes reported by patients themselves. In this prospective cohort study, patients receiving ERAS care will be compared with patients receiving conventional care. Preoperative anxiety will be measured using a validated questionnaire (APAIS). Clinical recovery during hospitalization, including length of stay, pain scores, and opioid use, will also be recorded. Patients will then be followed for one year to assess their quality of life (EQ-5D-5L) and their own impression of overall improvement (Patient Global Impression of Change). The goal of this study is to determine whether ERAS not only improves short-term surgical recovery, but also reduces preoperative anxiety and leads to better long-term, patient-centered outcomes.