Effect of Laughter Yoga on Surgical Fear and Anxiety in Patients Applied Before Ureteroscopy

Surgical fear is a situation where a person experiences excessive fear of surgical procedures. This fear can negatively affect the person's normal life and is usually more intense in the pre-operative period. The causes of surgical fear include factors such as previous negative surgical experiences, lack of sufficient information, post-operative pain and complications. In addition, factors such as age, gender, and level of education can also affect fear. This fear can lead to physical and psychological problems along with stress; symptoms such as increased heart rate, dizziness, and muscle tension can be seen. Methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, meditation, and hypnosis can be used in the treatment of surgical fear. In addition, anxiety can also arise from thinking about the surgical procedure, post-operative complications, fear of anesthesia, or pain. High-risk surgeries and past negative experiences can increase anxiety. High anxiety before surgery can lead to psychological and physical problems. Nurses should offer anxiety-reducing techniques (breathing exercises, relaxation) by taking into account the needs of patients. In addition, having relatives with the patient can help relieve anxiety. Laughter yoga is considered an effective complementary therapy to reduce surgical fear and anxiety. Developed in India in 1995, this method involves simulating laughter with yoga breathing techniques. Laughter yoga relaxes muscles, increases pain threshold, and improves overall psychological well-being. This study aims to evaluate the effects of laughter yoga on patients undergoing ureteroscopy.