Fear of going under general anesthesia: A cross-sectional study
M E Ruhaiyem1, A A Alshehri1, M Saade1
1Departement of Anesthesia, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia
|July 5, 2016
Summary
Most surgical patients fear anesthesia, particularly women over 40. Common anesthesia fears include postoperative pain and intraoperative awareness, impacting patient anxiety and surgical outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Surgical Patient Care
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Anesthesia-related fears are prevalent among surgical patients.
- Understanding these fears is crucial for preoperative patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify common general anesthesia fears in a preoperative anesthetic clinic.
- Examine the influence of patient demographics (sex, age, education) and prior anesthesia experience on these fears.
Main Methods:
- A structured questionnaire was administered to 400 patients across three tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Data included patient demographics and specific anesthesia concerns.
- Statistical analysis employed Chi-square and t-tests, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Main Results:
- 88% of patients reported preoperative fear.
- Top fears: postoperative pain (77.3%), intraoperative awareness (73.7%), and postoperative drowsiness (69.5%).
- Females (OR=5) and patients over 40 (OR=1.75) showed significantly higher fear levels.
Conclusions:
- The majority of patients experience anesthesia fear, with females and older individuals being more susceptible.
- Addressing patient fears is essential to mitigate preoperative anxiety and potential surgical impacts.
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