Open this publication in new window or tab >>2025 (English)In: BJS Open, E-ISSN 2474-9842, Vol. 9, no 1, article id zrae144Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Background
The longitudinal effects of educational interventions in people with abdominal aortic aneurysm are largely unexplored. This prospective study investigated whether the anxiety-lowering effect of an eHealth intervention observed at the 1-month follow-up is maintained 1 year after abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.
Methods
Those scheduled for surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm were recruited in a single-centre randomized clinical trial. The control group received care and follow-up per the institution's standard. The intervention group received an eHealth tool along with psychosocial support. The 1-month results have been reported. The primary outcome measure was the anxiety mean score (HADS-A).
Results
Of 120 included participants, 96 completed the 1-year follow-up (48 in each treatment group). The mean age was 73 years, a majority (86%) were male and 73% were current or previous smokers. Anxiety symptoms measured with the HADS-A decreased over time in both the intervention group (-0.33) and the control group (-0.35, P = 0.868). The improvements in anxiety symptoms seen in the short-term follow-up were not sustained at the 1-year follow-up. No significant mean score differences were found in the intention-to-treat or per-protocol analyses.
Conclusion
In this randomized clinical trial, an eHealth intervention did not result in a sustained reduction in anxiety symptoms compared with standard care in the same cohort. The study provides an insight into the limited acceptability of an eHealth tool in people with abdominal aortic aneurysm and valuable data on the recovery trajectory following open and endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. Further research is warranted to evaluate the relevance and long-term effectiveness of eHealth interventions in abdominal aortic aneurysm care. Registration number NCT03157973 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov). In a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effect of an eHealth intervention on anxiety in patients undergoing surgical treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm, the positive short-term results of the intervention were not sustained at the 1-year follow-up. The study provides data on the natural trajectory of physical and psychological symptoms following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and can serve as a basis for future interventions to improve abdominal aortic aneurysm care.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Oxford University Press, 2025
National Category
Surgery
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-69829 (URN)10.1093/bjsopen/zrae144 (DOI)001395927200001 ()39812416 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85215759757 (Scopus ID)
2025-01-222025-01-222025-01-29Bibliographically approved