PREDICTORS OF PREOPERATIVE ANXIETY AMONG ELECTIVE SURGICAL PATIENTS IN KAUNAS TEACHING HOSPITAL

Adomas Aladaitis1, Greta Petkevičiūtė1, Doc.Dr Tadas Latkauskas2

1Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, faculty of medicine

2 Department of Surgery, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Hospital

                   of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno klinikos, Kaunas, Lithuania

 

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Surgery and hospitalization are one of the biggest factors that lead to the experience of considerable anxiety in patients. There is a paucity of information about preoperative anxiety and its predictors in Kaunas region.

Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate preoperative anxiety in Kaunas region patients before the elective surgical procedure and find the main factors for state anxiety.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was accomplished with 129 patients scheduled for elective major and minor surgeries in Kaunas clinics teaching hospital from September 1, 2017, to January 1, 2018. The day before surgery, patients were asked to complete three-part questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic data, predictors of preoperative anxiety and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire (STAI). Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Data differences were statistically significant when p<0.05.

Results: A total 129 patients participated in the study. Their mean age was 57,44±16,61 years (range 23-88 years). 64,1% of them were males. 82.1% of all patients had significant high preoperative anxiety. The most common reasons for high preoperative anxiety were associated with fear of unsuccessful surgery 67,2% and fear of complications 51.6%. Older patients over 60 years were associated with lower risk for preoperative anxiety (p<0.003).

Conclusions: The occurrence of preoperative anxiety in our population is high (82,8%). Fear of unsuccessful surgery was the most common factor that leads to anxiety. Factors which correlated with higher anxiety levels were male gender, trait anxiety, current medications, major surgery, general anaesthesia. Older age reduces preoperative state anxiety.

Key words: Anxiety •Surgery•Kaunas•State and trait anxiety inventory scale