The Effect of Multimedia Education Given Before Gynecological Examination on the Anxiety, Fear and Pelvic Pain Levels of Patients: A Single‐Blind Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

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Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of multimedia education given before gynecological examination on the anxiety, fear and plevic pain levels of patients. Method: This single-blind prospective randomized controlled study included 80 volunteer women aged 18-50 years who applied to the gynecology and obstetrics clinic. 80 women were randomized into two groups as study (n=40) and control group (n=40). The women in the study group were given information and training via multimedia before gynecological examination. The anxiety of the patients was assessed using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-1-2) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Fear of gynecological examination and pelvic pain were assessed with VAS. All assessments were repeated before and after the examination. Results: In the training group, the intragroup change analysis showed a statistically significant improvement in the STAI-1, pelvic pain (VAS), anxiety (VAS) and fear (VAS) scores (p=0.002; p=0.001; p=0.001; p=0.001). There was a significant difference in the anxiety level between groups (p=0.005). The STAI-1, pelvic pain (VAS), anxiety (VAS) and fear (VAS) of the patients in the training group decreased in the course of time. Conclusion: Multimedia patient information training before the gynecologic examination is thought to be a very effective method to reduce the anxiety, fear and pelvic pain of patients.