This is an interesting area that the nurses at the Surgical unit discussed in their Nursing Journal Club months ago. They've discussed the same review article that Abdulqadir attached for you.
They were thinking to conduct an Evidence-based project to look for literature to allievate pre-surgical stresses. Interestingly, the issue raised after observing high blood pressure readings and taccycardia the night before surgey.
There is many feasable interventions that can be done such as (1) pre-operative structured visits the night before the surgery; (2) Patients' round to Operation theatre before surgey. The latest might be argumentative, however there might be a turn around in bringing the theatre to them :) such as providing a friendly-booklet with real pictures and discription of the operation theatre environment.
Too little anxiety and too much anxiety are bad for the patient before surgery. Some people want information, other avoid information about the procedure
Article Depression, anxiety, hostility and hysterectomy
Louise Wallace in the 1980s in Birmingham (U.K.) showed giving patients plenty of information prior to surgery reduces anxiety etc. More importantly information led to a reduction of the number of days spent in hospital. Basically educating most patients will reduce the cost of hospitalization and drastically reduce personal stress for patients.