Pre-operative anxiety of patients in district hospitals in Ashanti Region, Ghana

• Published in: Journal of perioperative nursing Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. e3 - e11
• Main Authors: Dankyi, Sawan, Bimerew, Million, Chipps, Jennifer-Anne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lyndoch, SA ACORN 01-09-2023
• Subjects: Anxiety; Etiology; Evaluation; Informed consent (Medical law); Nurse and patient; Preoperative care; Surveys
• ISSN: 2209-1092; 2209-1092
• DOI: 10.26550/2209-1092.1242

Objectives: To investigate pre-operative anxiety of patients at district hospitals in Ashanti Region, Ghana.
Method: A descriptive survey was conducted with patients who were being prepared to undergo various surgical operations at ten hospitals. The questionnaire included the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and questions about factors that may contribute to patients' anxiety prior to surgery.
Results: Most of the 210 respondents reported anxiety with 189 (90%) reporting some anxiety before the surgical operation (20.57/30, +-10.07), range 0-26). Respondents reported moderate anxious mood (2.14, +-1.45), tension prior to surgery (2.00, +-1.35) and insomnia on the day before the procedure (2.00, +-1.32). It was identified that the type of surgical procedure (3.43, +-1.36), fear of complications (3.42, +-1.33) and possible post-operative pain (3.38, +-1.20) were the most common concerns contributing to pre-operative anxiety. There was a positive association between type of surgery (p < 0.004), postoperative pain (p < 0.005) and concerns for family (p < 0.002) and anxiety.
Conclusion: Most respondents had some level of pre-operative anxiety associated with the type of surgical procedure, possible complications and post-operative pain.