Determination of anxiety level about surgery in patients with low back pain on preoperative term

Abstract

Aim: To investigate preoperative pain intensity and anxiety level related to surgery in patients scheduled to lumbar surgery. Method: One hundred and twenty six lumbar surgery scheduled patients (82 female, 44 male) due to various reasons were included in study. Patients’ demographics and clinical data were documented and patients were asked whether they were worried about surgery. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I) was used to measure statetrait anxiety and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to investigate pain intensity on preoperative term. Results: The mean age of patients was 53.11±15.37 years. The mean pain intensity was 5.27±3.45. The mean STAI-I score was found 46.98±17.55 on preoperative term. Although 101(80.2%) of patients were informed about surgery, postoperative care etc., 25(19.8%) of patients were not informed, yet. While 60(47.6%) of patients had anxiety about surgery, 66(52.4%) had not. Ninety-six (76.2%) of patients stated their pain was constantly. Twenty-two (17.5%) of patients had pain, occasionally. Three (2.4%) patients had pain, rarely. There was a positive correlation between pain intensity and state-trait anxiety (p=0.047, r=0.177). Discussion: Anxiety level of patients were high on preoperative term. It was observed that as pain intensity increases, state of anxiety also increases. We believe it is important that to be informed the patients about surgery is reduced anxiety, before surgery