Preoperative Fear of Anticipated Postoperative Pain in Colorectal Surgery Patients: A Cross-sectional Analysis of...

To assess preoperative fear of anticipated postoperative pain levels and identify associated risk factors.

A descriptive, cross-sectional study.

This study was conducted on a total of 258 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery and is reported in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with patients using a structured "Patient Identification Form" and the validated "Postoperative Pain Fear Scale." Statistical analyses included comparative and correlational assessments of demographic and clinical factors.

High fear of pain scores were significantly associated with cancer-related diagnoses (P < .001), previous surgical history (P < .016), family history of chronic diseases (P < .021), presence of colostomy (P < .032), and current pain (P < .040). The fear of pain scores correlated negatively with age (r = -0.228, P < .001) and stoma duration (r = -0.312, P < .037). Multivariate regression analysis resulted in a significant model (F_(6,251) = 20.819, P < .01), explaining 31.6% of the variance in fear of pain scores.

Younger patients, those with cancer-related diagnoses and experiencing preoperative pain, tend to exhibit elevated levels of fear regarding anticipated postoperative pain. The inverse relationship between stoma duration and fear of pain suggests psychological adaptation over time. These results underscore the importance of preoperative fear of pain assessment and targeted nursing interventions to reduce its effects.