Impact of a designed educational program on elderly patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy is a frequently required procedure in the elderly due to the high prevalence of pulmonary diseases. Bronchoscopy is associated with fears, stress, and anxiety. To evaluate the impact of an educational program on patient knowledge, anxiety level, difficulties, duration, and complications of bronchoscopy procedure in elderly patients. One hundred and fifty patients aged 60 years and older candidates for bronchoscopy were included. The patients were randomly divided into two equal groups: 75 patients received educational guideline (study group); 75 patients did not receive educational guideline (control group). Patient knowledge about bronchoscopy and anxiety level were assessed. The esigned educational program was applied to the study group on the day before the procedure. It included brochures with simple and brief instructions and pictures about bronchoscopy in Arabic language. It also includes the structure of the respiratory system, definition, indications and complications of bronchoscopy, patient preparation before, during and after the procedure, and patient’s precautions that should be taken during and after bronchoscopy. There were insufficient knowledge and high anxiety scale about bronchoscopy. Knowledge score significantly increased and anxiety scale significantly decreased after providing the patients with educational program (P<0.001 for each). There was significant reduction in the duration of bronchoscopy procedure and the amount of anaesthesia used in the study than in the control group (P<0.001). Difficulties and discomfort were significantly lower in the study group. Besides improving knowledge and reducing anxiety score, implementing the designed educational program increases tolerability, easiness and decrease problems related to bronchoscopy.