The Effect of Relaxation and Respiratory Exercise on Anxiety in Thyroid Biopsy Patients

Objectives: It is known that high stress levels increase the risk of complications in invasive procedures. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the relaxation and respiratory exercise on the anxiety state specific to the thyroid biopsy procedure in patients. Methods: 100 randomly selected thyroid biopsy patients from 200 patients watched the Relaxation and Respiratory Exercise video (group 1) and did the instructions, and the rest 100 patients were control group (group 2) who did not watch it. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory state scale (STAI-I) and trait anxiety scale (STAI-II) were administered to all patients before the procedure. Group 1 watched the video just before the biopsy procedure. After the biopsy procedure, all the 200 patients rested for 15 minutes, and the STAI- I scale was filled again. Results: When the STAI-II and pre-biopsy STAI-I questionnaire results of the patients were compared between two groups; study group (Group 1): Patients who were selected to watch the video, control group (Group 2): Patients who were not watching the video), no statistically significant difference was found (p>0,005). When the anxiety levels in the first STAI-I performed before the biopsy and the STAI-I tests performed after the procedure were compared, a statistically significant decrease was found in the anxiety levels of the SG (p<0,001). Anxiety levels of female patients were statistically significantly higher than male patients. Conclusions: Although thyroid biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure, it may cause anxiety in patients. Watching the video before the procedure resulted in a decrease in the anxiety levels of the patients.