The Effect of Digital Storytelling on the Anxiety of Patients with Pituitary Adenoma Undergoing Transsphenoidal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Hediyeh Shokraneh, Masoumeh Zakerimoghadam, Mahdi Zeinali Zade Rafsanjanipour, Pegah Matourypour, Mohammad AnsariAbstract
Background:
Patients with pituitary adenoma often experience anxiety due to hormonal changes and the stress associated with transsphenoidal surgery. Digital storytelling, as an innovative multimedia-based training method, has recently been used in patient education. This study investigated the effect of digital storytelling on the anxiety of patients with pituitary adenoma undergoing transsphenoidal surgery.
Materials and Methods:
This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 70 patients with pituitary adenoma scheduled for transsphenoidal surgery at a teaching hospital affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. The intervention group received a 15–20-minute digital storytelling program that included experiences shared by patients and nurses regarding preoperative and postoperative care, while the control group received routine hospital education. Anxiety levels were measured a day before surgery, a day after surgery, and three weeks later using Spielberger’s State Anxiety Scale. Data were analyzed by SPSS-25 software using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results:
The mean score of anxiety in the intervention group decreased by 12.45 (1.24) units a day after the surgery and by 24.82 (1.32) units three weeks after the surgery compared to baseline (
Conclusions:
Digital storytelling was effective in reducing anxiety among patients with pituitary adenoma undergoing transsphenoidal surgery and may serve as a valuable educational intervention.