[A study on the effect of waiting time for operations in the operating room on preoperative patients]

This study was attempted to provide us with basic information on how to improve understanding with patients for operation, and to offer them better nursing and treatment. This kind of study will help scientific application to nursing practice and operating room. The data was collected by interviewing 29 patients who underwent the elective surgery under the general anesthesia at Y hospital in Seoul. The interview ran from October 15 to December 15, 1989. The research instrument was a anxiety measurement device (SAAI) originally developed by Spielberger, et al and modified by Jung-Tack Kim. 1. Hypothesis Testing Hypothesis one was that there would be a difference in state anxiety level according to a time difference in waiting for operation. This hypothesis was rejected (state anxiety level one hour before operation P greater than .05, r = .747, State anxiety level half an hour before operation P greater than .05, r = .1550, state anxiety level just before operation, P greater than .05, r = .1099). However, state anxiety level appeared to be associated with a longer waiting period, like one day before operation (P less than .05, r = .4628). Hypothesis two was that there would be a difference according to state anxiety level of patients for operation. This was rejected. (Change of blood pressure in systolic P greater than .05, r = -.1082. Change of blood pressure in diastolic P greater than .05, r = -.088, Change of pulse rate, P less than .05, r = 1.909) 2. Examining trait anxiety and state anxiety levels, the average level of trait anxiety was 42.034, and the average level of state anxiety one day before operation was 43,000. The average level of state anxiety was averaged 42.356 in a waiting room for operation. 3. Examining the state anxiety level by time period, the level one hour before was 42.379, the level half an hour before 42.276, and the level just before operation 42.414. The low level of state anxiety was due to the fact that premedication was not eliminated. 4. Age and time period like one day before operation was related to state anxiety level (F = 5.271, P less than .001) and blood pressure in waiting room for operation. That is, state anxiety level and blood pressure of patients one day before operation appeared high. Sex was related to changes of blood pressure; the blood pressure of male patients appeared higher than that of female patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)