Effect of the Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response on pre-operative anxiety and vital signs : A prospective randomised placebo controlled research study

In this randomised placebo controlled research study, patients in the preoperative waiting room of the Sydney Adventist Hospital (Wahroonga, NSW) will be asked to volunteer to participate in this study to be conducted by university student investigators who will deliver the intervention. Once consent is obtained, adequate privacy of the participants will be ensured by measures such as drawing the curtains in their waiting bay. Participants will have their vital signs measured; including blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate; and their anxiety assessed using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Participants will then undergo randomisation into two groups: Group 1 to watch a standardised audio-visual ASMR stimulus; and Group 2 to watch a standardised placebo video which is similar but does not contain ASMR triggers. Each video lasts approximately 5 minutes. The video will be delivered on an electronic device such as a tablet or laptop with headphones. The study will use REDCap (Research Electronic Capture Data) to deliver the video and questionnaires Following this intervention, both groups will have their vital signs measured and their anxiety assessed using the methods described above a second time. Following this, both groups will be asked “Did you experience a tingling sensation or mood change during the intervention?” Responders to ASMR will be identified based on this assessment. The total intervention will take approximately 15 minutes, and adherence to the intervention will be monitored by the investigators present at the time of the intervention.