This study investigates whether structured communication about artificial intelligence (AI) in perioperative care can reduce preoperative anxiety and improve perceived control among adult patients undergoing elective surgery. As AI-supported tools become more common in healthcare, patients may feel uncertain about how these technologies relate to their care, whether they influence clinical decisions, and whether healthcare professionals remain responsible for final decision-making. Such uncertainty may contribute to anxiety before surgery and may reduce patients' sense of control. In this attention-controlled randomized trial, adult patients scheduled for elective surgery will be assigned to one of two groups. The attention-control group will receive standard preoperative information plus a time-matched general supportive nurse-patient communication session. The intervention group will receive standard preoperative information plus a structured, non-technical communication protocol about AI in perioperative care. The protocol will explain the supportive role of AI, emphasize human clinical oversight, address AI-related uncertainty, and help patients understand that general information about AI must be interpreted in relation to their individual clinical situation. Preoperative anxiety, perceived control, AI-related uncertainty, information clarity, and trust in the clinical team will be assessed using structured questionnaires. The study does not test or evaluate any AI software, medical device, imaging system, or diagnostic technology. Instead, it focuses on whether structured communication about AI-related uncertainty can improve psychological preparedness before surgery. The findings may help inform practical, transparent, and patient-centered communication strategies for discussing AI-supported healthcare technologies in perioperative settings.
Artificial intelligence (AI)-supported tools are increasingly discussed and implemented across healthcare, including perioperative care. Although the technical performance and clinical applications of AI systems have been widely studied, less attention has been given to how patients understand and psychologically respond to information about AI-supported healthcare technologies. Patients may be uncertain about the role of AI, whether it replaces or supports clinical judgment, how human oversight is maintained, and how general information about AI applies to their own care. Preoperative anxiety is common among surgical patients and may be influenced by uncertainty, limited understanding of care processes, and difficulty interpreting health-related information. Perceived control may help patients cope with uncertainty by improving their ability to understand what is happening, how care decisions are guided, and how general information relates to their individual clinical context. Structured communication may therefore be a feasible strategy to reduce AI-related uncertainty, improve perceived control, and support psychological preparedness before surgery. This single-center, two-arm, attention-controlled randomized trial will evaluate the effects of structured communication about AI in perioperative care on preoperative anxiety and perceived control among adult patients scheduled for elective surgery. A total of 120 participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either an attention-control group or an intervention group. Participants in the attention-control group will receive standard preoperative information plus a time-matched general supportive nurse-patient communication session. This session will be similar in duration to the intervention session and will focus on general preoperative support and routine patient questions. It will not include structured content about artificial intelligence, AI-related uncertainty, human oversight of AI-supported systems, or technology-related decision support. Participants in the intervention group will receive standard preoperative information plus a structured AI communication protocol delivered face-to-face by a trained nurse. The protocol will use clear, non-technical, patient-centered language and will explain the supportive role of AI in healthcare, emphasize that clinical decisions remain under professional human oversight, address uncertainty related to AI-supported technologies, contextualize general AI-related information for the individual patient, and encourage patient questions. The intervention does not involve the use, testing, or evaluation of any AI software, medical device, imaging system, or diagnostic technology. The study does not assess the diagnostic accuracy, technical performance, or clinical effectiveness of AI-supported systems. Instead, it evaluates the psychological and communication-related effects of structured explanation about AI in perioperative care. Preoperative anxiety will be assessed using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale. Perceived control, AI-related uncertainty, information clarity, trust in the clinical team, and baseline eHealth literacy will also be assessed using structured questionnaires. Outcomes will be measured at baseline before randomization and after the communication session before surgery. Statistical analyses will compare post-communication outcomes between groups while accounting for baseline values where applicable. This study aims to inform patient-centered and ethically responsible communication strategies for discussing AI-supported technologies in perioperative care.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
120
A brief, approximately 5-7-minute, face-to-face structured communication protocol delivered by a trained nurse using clear, non-technical, patient-centered language. The protocol explains the supportive role of artificial intelligence in perioperative care, emphasizes that clinical decisions remain under professional human oversight, addresses AI-related uncertainty, contextualizes general AI-related information for the individual patient, and encourages patient questions. No AI software, medical device, imaging system, or diagnostic technology is used, tested, or evaluated as part of this intervention.
A brief, approximately 5-7-minute, face-to-face general supportive nurse-patient communication session delivered in addition to standard preoperative information. The session is time-matched to the structured AI communication protocol and focuses on general preoperative support and routine patient questions. It does not include structured explanation of artificial intelligence, AI-related uncertainty, human oversight of AI-supported systems, or technology-related decision support.
Ağrı Training and Research Hospital
Ağrı, Merkez, Turkey (Türkiye)
Post-Communication Preoperative Anxiety
Preoperative anxiety will be assessed using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) anxiety subscale. The primary outcome is the post-communication APAIS anxiety score measured before surgery, with baseline APAIS anxiety accounted for in the analysis. The APAIS anxiety subscale consists of 4 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 4 to 20. Higher scores indicate higher preoperative anxiety.
Time frame: Baseline before randomization and post-communication before surgery, approximately 10-20 minutes after baseline assessment.
Post-Communication Perceived Control
Post-communication perceived control will be assessed using an adapted 8-item perceived control measure for the healthcare context. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 8 to 40. Higher scores indicate greater perceived control, defined as the patient's perceived ability to understand the care process, interpret relevant information, and feel oriented within the perioperative care context. The outcome is the post-communication perceived control score measured before surgery, with baseline perceived control accounted for in the analysis.
Time frame: Baseline before randomization and post-communication before surgery, approximately 10-20 minutes after baseline assessment.
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