Rosa Carmen Fernandez Lobato1, Víctor Soria-Aledo2, José María Jover Navalón3, José María Calvo Vecino4. 1. Servicio de Cirugía general y Digestivo, Hospital U. Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, España. 2. Servicio de Cirugía general y del Aparato Digestivo, Hospital G.U. Morales Messeguer, Murcia, España. Electronic address: victoriano.soria@carm.es. 3. Servicio de Cirugía, Hospital U. de Getafe, Madrid, España. 4. Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital U. Infanta Leonor, Madrid, España.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of the different causes of anxiety in patients and families, facing surgery. METHODS: Cross-sectional multicenter national survey recruiting 1,260 participants between patients and companions, analyzing the impact of 14 areas selected based on scientific publications aimed at the general public, concerning patients and/or companions, focused on concern about surgery. Patient sex, age, type of surgery (minor/major) and expected inpatient or ambulatory surgery were analyzed. For the companions sex and age, and relationship to patient were analyzed. In both cases it was assessed based on a unidimensional scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being be minimal cause for concern and 10, maximum. RESULTS: The most prominent have been the fear of the unknown, possible complications, the impact on quality of life, the accuracy of diagnosis and possible malignancy of the disease, as well as anesthesia and pain control. There are significant differences in the involvement of patients and companions; and are also differences by sex and age of the patient; type of surgery (minor/major) and expected hospital admission or not. CONCLUSIONS: The patient faces surgery with a number of fears that can be reduced with increased information.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of the different causes of anxiety in patients and families, facing surgery. METHODS: Cross-sectional multicenter national survey recruiting 1,260 participants between patients and companions, analyzing the impact of 14 areas selected based on scientific publications aimed at the general public, concerning patients and/or companions, focused on concern about surgery. Patient sex, age, type of surgery (minor/major) and expected inpatient or ambulatory surgery were analyzed. For the companions sex and age, and relationship to patient were analyzed. In both cases it was assessed based on a unidimensional scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being be minimal cause for concern and 10, maximum. RESULTS: The most prominent have been the fear of the unknown, possible complications, the impact on quality of life, the accuracy of diagnosis and possible malignancy of the disease, as well as anesthesia and pain control. There are significant differences in the involvement of patients and companions; and are also differences by sex and age of the patient; type of surgery (minor/major) and expected hospital admission or not. CONCLUSIONS: The patient faces surgery with a number of fears that can be reduced with increased information.
Authors: Pablo García-Montero; María Victoria de Gálvez-Aranda; Nuria Blázquez-Sánchez; Francisco Rivas-Ruíz; José Francisco Millán-Cayetano; Cristina García-Harana; Magdalena de Troya Martín Journal: J Cancer Educ Date: 2022-02 Impact factor: 2.037