Abstract:

Introduction: Infectious diseases are a major concern for people, and it is obvious that being in a hospital environment during the COVID-19 pandemic is a separate stressor. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the preoperative anxiety levels of patients who underwent day surgery during the pandemic period. Materials and methods: The cross-sectional study included 310 patients admitted to the hospital for outpatient surgery. Data were collected using the case report form and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI I-II). Data analysis was done with IBM SPSS statistical 25.0 package program. Normality distribution was analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilks test. Parametric tests were used in the analysis of normally distributed variables, and nonparametric tests were used in the analysis of non-normally distributed data. Pearson correlation test and multiple linear regression model were performed to assess correlation between variables. The accepted significance level for the results is α<0.05. Resuşts: It was determined that the mean age of the research group was 46.61±11.98, 58.4% were women, 59.7% were primary school graduates, and 44.2% had at least one chronic disease. 21.6% of the participants had COVID-19 disease. Local anesthesia was applied to 75.5% of the participants during day surgery, and 25.2% of them applied to the obstetrics clinic. The mean score of the State Anxiety Scale was 46.25±11.37, and 61.3% of them had moderate anxiety. The Trait Anxiety Scale mean score is 45.68± 8.59, and 69.4% of them have moderate anxiety. As the level of state anxiety increases, the level of trait anxiety also increases (p<0.05). State anxiety level; It is affected by age, education level, having a child, having a chronic disease, presence of hypertension, being diagnosed with COVID-19, and working in a job during the pandemic (p<0.05). Trait anxiety level; educational status, being diagnosed with COVID-19, working at a job during the pandemic, and the type of anesthesia applied during the surgical intervention (p<0.05). Conclusion and suggestions: It was determined that the anxiety of the patients who underwent day surgery during the pandemic process was moderate. Educational status, being diagnosed with COVID-19 and working in a job during the pandemic affect both state and trait anxiety levels. As the level of state anxiety increases, the level of trait anxiety also increases. Qualitative research is needed to understand how people are coping with the pandemic and what psychosocial support they need during the pandemic. Data is crucial for future pandemic management.

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