Evaluating Preoperative Anxiety Levels in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychology
• Nursing

Background:

• Elevated preoperative anxiety and stress in breast cancer patients can worsen surgical outcomes and prolong recovery.
• Understanding factors influencing patient stress is vital for effective perioperative care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess preoperative stress and anxiety levels in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery.
• To explore the relationship between patient characteristics and psychological distress.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, cross-sectional study involving 165 female patients undergoing breast cancer surgery.
• Anxiety and stress were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Scale.
• Data analysis included descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests.

Main Results:

• 35.8% of patients reported moderate anxiety, and 17.6% reported high anxiety levels.
• A significant positive correlation was found between anxiety and stress scores (rho = 0.643, P < 0.001).
• Stress levels (STAI-X-2) showed a negative correlation with body height (rho = -0.1188, P = 0.016).

Conclusions:

• Patient personality traits significantly impact preoperative anxiety levels in breast cancer surgery patients.
• Nurses play a critical role in providing psychological support to mitigate preoperative anxiety and stress.