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Multicenter Study
. 2018 Oct 30;18(1):155.
doi: 10.1186/s12871-018-0619-0.

Preoperative anxiety and associated factors among adult surgical patients in Debre Markos and Felege Hiwot referral hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia

Henok Mulugeta  1 , Mulatu Ayana  2 , Mezinew Sintayehu  3 , Getenet Dessie  4 , Tesfu Zewdu  5
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Preoperative anxiety and associated factors among adult surgical patients in Debre Markos and Felege Hiwot referral hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia

Henok Mulugeta et al. BMC Anesthesiol. .

Abstract

Background: Anxiety during the preoperative period is the most common problem with a number of postoperative complications such as an increase in postoperative pain, delay of healing and prolong the hospital stay. Further, patients with a high level of preoperative anxiety require higher doses of anesthetic agents and recover poorly. Despite its serious health complications, its magnitude and associated factors have been poorly explored in Ethiopia particularly in the selected study areas.

Objective: To assess preoperative anxiety and associated factors among adult surgical patients in Debre Markos and Felege Hiwot Referral Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia.

Method: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on 353 patients scheduled for surgery using a systematic random sampling technique. The data were collected using the state version of the state-trait anxiety inventory scale. All collected data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and analysis was done by using SPSS version 20 software. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the effect of independent variables on the dependent variable. A p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results: Overall, 61% (95%CI (55.5-65.7)) patients had significant high level of preoperative anxiety. The most common reported factor responsible for preoperative anxiety was fear of complications 187(52.4%). There was a statistically significant high level of pre-operative anxiety among female patients [AOR 2.19 (95%CI (1.29-3.71))] and patients who lack preoperative information [AOR 2.03(95%CI (1.22-3.39))].

Conclusion: The prevalence of preoperative anxiety was high. The level of preoperative anxiety significantly associated with sex, preoperative information provision, and previous surgical experience. Preoperative psychosocial assessment should be incorporated into a routine nursing practice and every patient should be provided with preoperative information before surgery.

Keywords: Anxiety; Ethiopia; Major surgery; Preoperative anxiety.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the ethical review board of the College of Health Science Debre Markos University. The official letter was written to the Debre Markos and Felege Hiwot referral hospitals to get their permission. In addition, informed written consent was obtained from the respondent clients after explaining the purpose of the data collection. Confidentiality and privacy were maintained during data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Preoperative information topics for surgical patients in the referral hospitals
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