The relationship between preoperative anxiety and postoperative recovery index in laparoscopic abdominal surgery patients.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain and recovery index in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

METHODS

This study was descriptive and correlational. The study population consisted of 115 patients who underwent laparoscopic abdominal surgery in the General Surgery Department of a state hospital in Kocaeli. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the institutions where the study was to be conducted, and ethical approval was obtained from the Scientific Research Ethics Committee of Kocaeli City Hospital. Data were collected using the Visual Analogue Scale pain scale, the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Score, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Postoperative Recovery Index.

RESULTS

A moderate, positive, and statistically significant correlation was found between State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State Anxiety scores and Postoperative Recovery Index total scores. Furthermore, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State Anxiety scores were found to be significantly correlated with the subscales of the Postoperative Recovery Index. The correlations with these subscales were as follows: Physical Activities, Bowel Symptoms, General Symptoms, Desire/Urge, and Psychological Symptoms.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that as the preoperative anxiety level of patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery increased, they experienced difficulties in postoperative recovery and as the patients' well-being decreased.