Abstract

Preoperative Anxiety among Adult Patients Subjected to Elective Surgery in Karbala

Background: Preoperative anxiety is a considerable problem that could affect the surgical outcome of patients. Anaesthesiologists can assess preoperative anxiety sufficiently and accurately through special tools.

Objective: To assess the preoperative anxiety level before elective surgery among patients who underwent surgery and its correlates.

Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study, 104 patients who were admitted as planned to Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital in Karbala were assessed for their anxiety felt before the surgery using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) which is a standardized questionnaire for measuring the intensity of the stress and anxiety, and the need for information.

Results: More than one third 37 (35.6%) of the patients had anxiety. The Mean anxiety score for surgery was 5.64 ± 2.03 which is higher than that for anesthesia 4.39 ± 2.07. The preoperative anxiety level was significantly higher among females. While 58 (55.8%) have a low level of need for information about procedures. And the need for information requirement was positively correlated with preoperative anxiety.

Conclusion: Patients had experienced moderate levels of preoperative anxiety which was more among females. The need for information was moderate. However, those with a higher need for information were more anxious. Anxiety can be assessed in the preoperative period so appropriate steps to ameliorate it could be considered.

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