Factors related to fear in patients undergoing cataract surgery: a qualitative study focusing on factors associated with fear and reassurance among patients who need to undergo cataract surgery

Emotional Factors Prior to Cataract Surgery

“…Patients reported being afraid of the surgical procedure due to fear of pain during the procedure, lack of orientation in the preoperative period, and as part of each person's strategy to cope. 4 Anesthesia usually produces more fear than the surgery itself. This feeling can be linked to the idea of losing control, absence, disconnection, separation, and death.…”

“…The participation of the doctor and other professionals in explaining, understanding, and calming down the patient is extremely important for reducing anxiety and its consequences. 4 A significant proportion of the patients declared having doubts as to the outcome of the surgical procedure (Table 3). This fact may also be related to poor communication between doctor and patient, which highlights the importance of the doctor showing willingness to offer explanations that are adapted to the patient's ability to understand.…”

“…Oral information seems to be more effective due to the interpersonal contact. 4 A study in which the authors applied a similar questionnaire to patients from private and public clinics requiring cataract surgery, as well as to surgeons, showed discrepancies between what doctors consider to be priorities for patients and what the patients themselves actually consider as priorities. The most striking disparities were seen in the priorities set by public service patients.…”

“…Lack of information about the surgical procedure and also expectations regarding results may be the reason for this anxiety and fear. 4,5 Any health education intervention must be preceded by the understanding of the meaning and dimensions attributed by the subjects to the illness process, enabling understanding of the underlying significance of behaviors concerning disease prevention, control, and treatment. 6 One of the most important factors regarding patient satisfaction is information on medical procedures.…”

Conscious surgery: influence of the environment on patient anxiety

“…Following a study by Nijkamp et al (2002) it was stated that "Patients reported a feeling of helplessness and oppression while lying underneath a cloth during surgery or shivering with cold in the operating theatre." (Nijkamp et al 2002 p.269).…”