The Effect of Comedy Therapy on Anxiety and Vital Signs in Liver Transplant Recipients during the Preoperative...

Patients awaiting liver transplantation often experience preoperative anxiety, which may negatively influence vital signs and physiological stability. Brief, low-cost non-pharmacological interventions such as comedy therapy may help reduce anxiety and improve selected physiological parameters. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of comedy therapy on preoperative anxiety and vital signs in liver transplant recipients.

This randomized controlled trial was conducted between April 2024 and May 2025 at a liver transplant institute in Turkey. A total of 120 participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 60) or a control group (n = 60). During the preoperative period, the intervention group watched 10-min clips from classic Turkish comedy films, while the control group received only routine care. State-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) scores and vital signs (systolic/diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation) were measured before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26 with p < 0.05 considered significant.

In the intervention group, STAI scores decreased significantly after comedy therapy (p = 0.001), whereas no significant change occurred in the control group (p = 0.974). Mean pulse, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate decreased, and oxygen saturation increased significantly in the intervention group (p < 0.05). In the control group, only a limited reduction in blood pressure was noted. Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in respiratory rate and oxygen saturation (p < 0.05).

Comedy therapy effectively reduces preoperative anxiety and improves selected physiological parameters in liver transplant recipients. Integrating such low-cost, non-pharmacological interventions into surgical preparation may enhance psychological well-being and promote physiological stability.