Preoperative Anxiety and Fear of Anesthesia in Patients admitted in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Rawalpindi

Abstract

Background: Preoperative apprehension is a widespread global problem. This anxiety and apprehension can significantly affect all aspects of anesthesia and surgery. Thus, it is essential to detect and address the patient's anxiety to assist in recovery after surgery and improve the patient's outcome. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted over one year in the allied hospitals of Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU). Our sample size was 380 preoperative patients, who were selected by convenience sampling. The Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) was used.Results: The overall prevalence of anxiety was 30.5%, while the prevalence of information requirement was 33.2%. The mean total APAIS was 12.73±8.56, the mean anxiety subscore was 8.25±5.58, and the mean need for information subscore was 4.48±3.16. A statistically significant difference was found in the scores of the patients based on age, gender, education, type of anesthesia, and type of surgery (p< 0.05). The previous history of anesthesia and the presence of comorbidities did not bring a significant difference in the scores of the patients (p>0.05). Postoperative pain was the most important concern, found in 32% of the patients.
 Conclusion: Younger age group, female gender, having no formal education, surgery under regional anesthesia, and undergoing C-section, IOL implantation and septoplasty are associated with higher preoperative anxiety, while the presence of comorbidities and previous history of anesthesia are factors that do not significantly affect preoperative anxiety in our population.

Prevalence of preoperative anxiety among hospitalized patients in a developing country: a study of associated factors

“…This study was conducted with the help of a data collection form that was developed specifically for this study. The data collection form was based on previous related studies (Eberhart et al 2020;Abate et al 2020;Ayele et al 2021;Moura et al 2016;Fentie et al 2022;Bedaso et al 2022;Khalili et al 2019;Mariyam et al 2020;Bedaso and Ayalew 2019;Aust et al 2018;Gürler et al 2022;Li et al 2021;Moerman et al 1996;Navarro-Gastón and Munuera-Martínez 2020;Yu et al 2022). The data collection form was organized into sections.…”

“…Age, gender, marital status, educational level, type of surgery, type of anesthesia, and presence of chronic diseases were reportedly associated with preoperative anxiety (Eberhart et al 2020 ; Abate et al 2020 ; Zemła et al 2019 ; Liu et al 2022 ; Moura et al 2016 ; Fentie et al 2022 ; Bedaso et al 2022 ). Of the different factors, worrying about the success of surgery, postoperative course, and complications were the most important factors (Khalili et al 2019 ; Mariyam et al 2020 ). In a systematic review with meta-analysis that included 14,652 surgical patients, Abate et al reported that the pooled prevalence rate of preoperative anxiety among the patients was 48% (95% confidence interval (CI) 39 to 47%) (Abate et al 2020 ).…”