Evaluation Of Anxiety In Patients Applying To Anesthesia Out - Patient Clinic

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of demographic factors as age,education, gender, marital status on anxiety level and anxiety levels and reasons of the patients those will be operated electively.

Method: A total of 800 patients ≥18 years whohas been prepared for elective surgery and completed the questionnaire at the anesthesia outpatient clinic have been enrolled in this study. Patients ≥18 years old, who were classified as ASA I – III according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), literate individuals, subjects without any psychiatric or neurological disease, patients who did not use psychiatric drugs or alcohol (chronic consumers)were included in the study.

Results: The highest STAI – I value was found in 31 – 50 age group. Pre-operative STAI – I value was higher in women (p<0.001). When anesthesia history was evaluated 479 of the 700 patients were received anesthesiapreviously and STAI – I scores were numerically higher in these patients(43.3+-9.4 vs. 41.8+-9.7)(p=0.056). University graduates had higher levels of anxiety on awakening during surgery (p=0.002).When the relation between the anesthesia anxiety scores and gender was evaluated women mostly anxious about the post-operative pain and their family.

Conclusion: It is natural that one could experience a certain form of anxiety before, during and after a surgical procedure. This research elaborated that being women and no previous history of anesthesia had significantly affected per-operative anxiety. Briefing the patient in anesthesia examination might play an important role to relieve the patient.