Nobody enjoys being on the waiting list for hip replacement surgery, but there may be some strategies to reduce the anxiety and increase quality of life during the waiting process.

University of Regina researcher Heather Hadjistavropoulos says she is looking for volunteers who are currently on the waiting list for hip surgery in Regina. They could be part of a group of 80 or more people who will help test some approaches to reducing the anxiety and negative emotions that come with waiting for the surgery, while improving overall health and the quality of life.

Volunteers will be asked to participate in two meetings with a researcher, likely at their own home, or on the telephone for participants who live outside Regina. They will be asked questions about their mood, physical functioning, and feelings about waiting for surgery. Each meeting should take approximately 45 minutes with six weeks in between meetings. In addition, participants will be asked to read over and refer to informational and coping materials provided to them.

“According to the Saskatchewan Surgical Care Network, in the year 2005 more than 20 per cent of individuals waiting for hip replacement surgery waited for over a year before their surgery,” says Hadjistavropoulos. “Long waits for hip replacement surgery can result in increased anxiety about the individuals’ health, about waiting, and about surgery.”

The potential benefits of participating in this study include gaining information on the surgery itself, a reduction in anxiety and negative emotions, improved overall health, and an increased quality of life.

The study is funded under the 2005-07 University of Regina President’s Scholar Award, presented to Hadjistavropoulos in May, 2005.

To volunteer for the study, call the researchers at
(306)585-5369 or e-mail janzen2j@uregina.ca.