Stressful pre‐operative preparation procedures

Abstract

One hundred and twenty-four patients (76 women and 48 men) were interviewed within the first 36 hours after operation. Fifty per cent of those studied were denture wearers. They were asked to fill in a questionnaire which registered their levels of distress about the various pre-operative preparation procedures. The most common factors contributing to pre-operative distress were waiting for transfer to the operating theatre, the prohibition of fluids and the removal of dentures.