Can Mandala Painting Help Reduce Surgery Anxiety?

This research explores whether mandala painting—a simple, creative activity where you color in circular designs before surgery—can help calm anxiety and stress. About 85% of people feel anxious before surgery, which can lead to more pain, slower healing, and higher medication needs. This study compares patients who paint mandalas for 20 minutes before their operation to those receiving standard care, to see if this calming activity makes a real difference.

While anxiety before surgery is very common and causes real problems for patients, most treatments use medications. This trial is exploring a non-drug option that's safe, simple, and available to everyone—regardless of artistic skill—because art-based activities have shown promise in reducing stress in other settings.