The evaluation of preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing general anesthesia at Sanaa hospitals
Introduction: Fear and anxiety before a surgical procedure is one of the important issues for patients. The present study aimed at identifying the factors that make patients being afraid of anesthesia, and determining
whether these fears are associated with patients’ gender, age, education level, and previous experience of anesthesia.
Methods : This cross-sectional study was conducted in different hospitals of Sanaa city in 2020. During routine screening one day before surgery, 204 adult patients were asked about fear, worry, and anxiety by anesthesiologists using a questionnaire.
Results: In the present study, 99% of patients suffered from different levels of anxiety. There was a significant relationship between gender and the level of fear and anxiety. Anxiety decreased with age (r=-0.21, p<0.001). Patients’ education level also had a significant effect on anxiety. The majority of patients (78.4%) wished to meet the anesthesiologist before surgery, while more than 45% of those who were visited by the anesthesiologist stated that this visit failed to reduce their anxiety.
Conclusion: Age, gender, educational level, pre-op visit by the anesthesiologist, and previous experience of surgery under general anesthesia variably affect patient preoperative feelings. Current practices in our Institution are not efficient at alleviating their anxiety and fear, and
there is a need to implement improving programs.
Keywords: anxiety- general anesthesia- preoperative evaluation.
whether these fears are associated with patients’ gender, age, education level, and previous experience of anesthesia.
Methods : This cross-sectional study was conducted in different hospitals of Sanaa city in 2020. During routine screening one day before surgery, 204 adult patients were asked about fear, worry, and anxiety by anesthesiologists using a questionnaire.
Results: In the present study, 99% of patients suffered from different levels of anxiety. There was a significant relationship between gender and the level of fear and anxiety. Anxiety decreased with age (r=-0.21, p<0.001). Patients’ education level also had a significant effect on anxiety. The majority of patients (78.4%) wished to meet the anesthesiologist before surgery, while more than 45% of those who were visited by the anesthesiologist stated that this visit failed to reduce their anxiety.
Conclusion: Age, gender, educational level, pre-op visit by the anesthesiologist, and previous experience of surgery under general anesthesia variably affect patient preoperative feelings. Current practices in our Institution are not efficient at alleviating their anxiety and fear, and
there is a need to implement improving programs.
Keywords: anxiety- general anesthesia- preoperative evaluation.