AORN journal
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The purpose of this field experimental study was to test these hypotheses. Videotaped preoperative information directed specifically toward surgical patients' families would reduce their state anxiety during the patients' hospitalization. Informative and supportive staff interaction with family members would increase their perception of support from the nursing staff. ⋯ The two experimental treatments were fully crossed in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Correlational methods were also used for data analysis. Findings in this study showed that videotaped preoperative information decreased state anxiety in family members of surgical patients, staff-family interaction had a positive effect on the family's perceived support from the nurse, and family member state anxiety scores were higher during the intraoperative period than during the postoperative period.