Proper information during the surgical decision-making process lowers the anxiety of patients with high-grade gliomas.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We aim to analyse the relationship between the quality of information during the decision-making process regarding surgery to treat high-grade gliomas and the level of anxiety of the patients. METHODS: This is a transversal, descriptive and correlational study on 26 patients with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of high-grade glioma. They scored the quality (in terms of comprehension and satisfaction) of information received about the treatment options and prognosis during the surgical decision-making process, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire (HADS) was applied immediately afterward. RESULTS: Lower levels of anxiety were observed in patients who showed a desire to receive information regarding their illness, those with a higher degree of comprehension, and those with a higher level of satisfaction with the information provided. CONCLUSIONS: An improvement in the communication process contributes to a decrease in the levels of anxiety, and consequently to enhancement of the well-being of these patients.