ABSTRACT

Different degrees of anxiety and fear are seen in the majority of pre-operative patients. An interview conducted by the anaesthesiologist during the preoperative period and the information given in this interview may reduce anxiety levels. In this study we aimed to evaluate the preoperative and postoperative anxiety levels and the impact of the preoperative information on the level of postoperative anxiety using the STAI anxiety scale.

After approval of the ethics committee, the “STAI FORM TX1” questionnaire, which is used to measure situational anxiety, was administered to 107 patients via an interview in order to measure their levels of preoperative anxiety. Standard general anaesthesiology was performed after all patients received information on the surgical operation and general anaesthesiology. In order to determine postoperative anxiety levels in patients in the postoperative period, the STAI FORM TX-1 questionnaire was repeated at postoperative 4-6 hours.

A significant decrease (p<0.05) in anxiety was observed between the 1st and 2nd questionnaire. Levels of anxiety in women were significantly higher than in male patients (p<0.05) preoperatively. Postoperatively, women’s anxiety levels were higher than in male patients but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.05).

The level of preoperative anxiety in women is higher than in men as resurgence of anxiety in women leaving the family is more intense and women express their concerns more easily than men. In addition, preoperative information reduces the level of anxiety.

Keywords: Preoperative anxiety, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Test, preoperative information, postoperative anxiety