Mary Anbarasi Johnson*

Professor in Nursing, CMC Vellore, India

*Corresponding Author: Mary Anbarasi Johnson, Professor in Nursing, CMC Vellore, India.

Received: January 20, 2026; Published: January 31, 2026

Abstract

Background: Preoperative instructions are an essential component of surgical care, particularly in neurosurgery where procedures are complex and associated with significant physical and psychological stress. Adolescents admitted to pediatric neurosurgical wards require clear, comprehensive, and understandable preoperative instructions to enhance preparedness, reduce anxiety, and prevent perioperative complications. Despite established hospital protocols, gaps in patient understanding and instruction delivery may exist.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the adequacy of preoperative instructions received by adolescent patients admitted to the pediatric neurosurgical ward and to identify areas requiring further clarification or support.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the pediatric neurosurgical ward of a tertiary care hospital at CMC, Vellore. A convenience sample of 25 adolescent patients aged 12–18 years undergoing elective neurosurgery for the first time was selected. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule consisting of demographic variables and a 20-item preoperative instruction checklist. Each item was scored as Yes (1) or No (0), and the total score was converted into a percentage to determine the level of adequacy.

Results: The findings revealed that while most patients received adequate instructions related to physical preparation such as hygiene, fasting (NPO), medication continuation, and surgical site preparation, significant deficiencies were noted in psychological preparation and postoperative education. Only 32% of patients received preoperative counselling, 8% were taught preoperative exercises, 4% received pain management education, and none were informed about the anaesthesia process, recovery room, or control desk. Overall, 80% of the patients had a moderate level of adequacy, and 20% had poor adequacy of preoperative instructions.

 Keywords: Adolescents; Neuro Surgical Ward; Nurses; Preoperative Instructions

References

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5. Patel R., et al. “Development and validation of a checklist for assessing preoperative instruction adequacy”. Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research 5 (2020): 300-305.

Citation

Citation: Mary Anbarasi Johnson. “A Study to Assess the Adequacy of Preoperative Instructions Among Adolescent Patients Admitted in Pediatric Neuro- surgical Ward at CMC". Acta Scientific Women's Health 8.2 (2026): 19-24.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Mary Anbarasi Johnson. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.