Examining the Relationship Between Surgical Fear and Health Literacy in Patients Undergoing Open-heart Surgery: A...

This study aimed to examine the relationship between surgical fear and health literacy in patients undergoing elective open-heart surgery. The primary goal was to determine whether surgical fear and other demographic factors could predict patients' health literacy levels and evaluate how these variables interact in a preoperative cardiac surgical context.

A multicenter, cross-sectional, and correlational study design was employed to investigate the relationship between surgical fear and health literacy among preoperative cardiac surgery patients.

The study was conducted in the cardiovascular surgery departments of three hospitals in the Aegean region of Turkey. A purposive sampling method was used, and data were collected from 430 patients who were scheduled to undergo open-heart surgery for the first time. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews using three instruments: a patient information form, the Surgical Fear Questionnaire, and the Turkish Health Literacy Scale. Descriptive statistics, t tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data.

Among the participants, 86.3% had inadequate health literacy levels, and the average surgical fear score was found to be high (60.91 ± 12.07). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between surgical fear and health literacy (r = -0.492, P < .001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that surgical fear and age were significant predictors of health literacy, collectively accounting for 32% of the total variance. Patients with higher surgical fear and those of older age demonstrated significantly lower health literacy levels. Notably, lower educational attainment and prior surgical experience were also associated with lower health literacy scores.

The findings suggest that surgical fear and health literacy are closely linked in patients awaiting open-heart surgery. As health literacy increases, surgical fear levels decrease. Health literacy is influenced by psychological and demographic factors, particularly surgical fear and age. These results underscore the importance of implementing tailored preoperative educational interventions to enhance health literacy and reduce fear, thereby supporting better surgical outcomes and emotional well-being.