NERS NEWS – Undergoing surgery is often a stressful moment for patients. Fear, anxiety, and various concerns regarding upcoming procedures can trigger significant pre-operative distress. To address this, Professional Nursing students from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga (Unair), held a Hospital Health Promotion (PKRS) activity titled “The Importance of Family Emotional Support for Pre-Operative Patients” on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in the Operating Theater (OK) waiting area of Universitas Airlangga Hospital (RSUA).
The program targeted patients and their families, aiming to enhance their understanding of how emotional support from loved ones can effectively prevent and mitigate pre-operative anxiety.
The PKRS session was designed to be communicative and interactive, utilizing two-way discussions supported by visual media such as PowerPoint presentations and leaflets written in accessible language. The material focused on the roles and impacts of family emotional support, levels of pre-operative anxiety, factors associated with such anxiety, and the direct correlation between family support and a patient’s mental state.
This education was conducted by Group 11 of the B27 Professional Nursing Cohort, Faculty of Nursing, Unair, under the supervision of academic advisor Dr. Laily Hidayati, S.Kep., Ns., M.Kep. and clinical instructor Citra Intansari A.L.S, S.Kep., Ns. The session took place from 09:00 to 09:20 AM WIB and was attended by family members and relatives of patients currently undergoing surgical procedures.
This initiative is expected to empower families to apply effective emotional support, thereby reducing patient anxiety, increasing mental readiness, and supporting a smoother surgical and recovery process. The high level of enthusiasm was evident during the Q&A session, where family members were able to provide summaries of the material, indicating a strong grasp of the information provided.
The “Importance of Family Emotional Support” PKRS activity aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, through promotive and preventive efforts to improve patient health outcomes.
- SDG 4: Quality Education, by providing systematic, easy-to-understand, and applicable health education.
The event concluded successfully with positive feedback from participants. It is hoped that this education will have a tangible impact on how families accompany pre-operative patients, ultimately improving the psychological condition and readiness of patients facing surgery.
Authors: Ni Putu Eka Maharani and Nayla Putri Aisyah
Editor: Farah Dina Azizatul Aulia (Airlangga Nursing Journalist)
