Effect of age and previous surgery experience on preoperative anxiety

Abstract EN

Background : It has been recognized for more than 40 years that patients experience different levels of anxiety when faced with impending surgery.

The degree to which each patient manifests anxiety is related to many factors.

Objective: This study aims to identify the effect of age and previous surgery experience on preoperative anxiety.

Patients and methods : For the purpose of this study a sample of 200 patients who were admitted from 5th April 2009 to the 10th November 2009 ; in general surgery units of teaching hospitals (Rezgari & Hawler) in Erbil city were interviewed to assess their level of anxiety before surgery and identify effect of age and previous surgery on anxiety.

The instrument used for this purpose was a questionnaire that included socio-demographic information and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) of Spilberger.

STAI is a validated scale which includes 20 items related to measurement of state anxiety.

High scores indicate high levels of anxiety.

Results: Most of the patients showed moderate to severe anxiety level ; (moderate = 50 % and severe = 38.3 %) others showed mild anxiety level (11.7 %).

A statistically significant relationship was seen between age and previous surgery experience before surgery.

Young patients with first surgery experience showed higher level of anxiety.

Conclusions : According to the results of the study patients undergoing major surgery need to be assessed regarding level of anxiety before surgery.

This anxiety should be reduced through appropriate interventions, especially in young patients with no previous surgery experience that have been found to experience high levels of anxiety.