Relief from anxiety using complementary therapies in the perioperative period: A principle-based concept analysis

Aims and objectivesTo analyze and clarify the concept of providing relief from anxiety using complementary therapies in the perioperative period utilizing the epistemological, pragmatic, linguistic and logical principles of a principle-based concept analysis to examine the state of the science.BackgroundThe majority of patients scheduled for surgery experience anxiety in the perioperative period. Anxiety has the potential to limit a patient's ability to participate in his or her care throughout their hospitalization. Although medications are the conventional medical treatment for anxiety in the perioperative period, the addition of a complementary therapy could be an effective holistic approach to providing relief from anxiety.DesignPrinciple-based concept analysis.MethodsIn 2015, strategic literature searches of CINHAL and PUBMED using keywords were performed. Fifty-six full text articles were assessed for eligibility.ResultsTwelve studies were used in the final analysis to clarify the concept of relief from anxiety using complementary therapies in the perioperative period.ConclusionThis analysis has clarified the maturity and boundaries, within the four principles of a principle-based concept analysis, of the concept of relief from anxiety using complementary therapies in the perioperative period. A greater understanding of relief from anxiety using complimentary therapies in the perioperative period as an adjunct to conventional medicine will allow perioperative nurses and anesthesia providers to modify and specify the plan of care for their surgical patients. The use of complementary therapies for relief in the perioperative period appears to be an area of promising research and treatment for patients, families and providers.