Assessment and Management of Preoperative Anxiety

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Anesthesiology
• Psychology

Background:

• Preoperative anxiety can negatively impact surgical outcomes, potentially leading to cancellations and delayed recovery.
• Unmanaged anxiety has significant clinical and economic implications.
• Elective otorhinolaryngologic procedures are susceptible to the effects of preoperative anxiety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate preoperative anxiety levels in patients undergoing elective otorhinolaryngologic surgery.
• To assess patient preferences for anxiety management strategies.

Main Methods:

• An observational, cross-sectional study involving 53 consecutive patients undergoing elective otorhinolaryngologic procedures under general anesthesia.
• Anxiety levels were measured using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.
• Patient preferences for anxiety reduction measures were assessed via the Service Improvement questionnaire.

Main Results:

• No significant increase in preoperative anxiety was observed (P=0.37), irrespective of gender or age.
• 54% of patients believed procedural information leaflets would reduce anxiety.
• 22% favored preoperative behavioral training, while 17% desired more information from the surgical team.

Conclusions:

• Patients undergoing elective otorhinolaryngologic procedures did not exhibit significantly elevated preoperative anxiety levels.
• There is a need to enhance preoperative information delivery and identify patients requiring additional support.
• Procedural information leaflets and behavioral training are potential anxiety-reduction strategies favored by patients.