Determination of preoperative surgical fear and anxiety levels in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the levels of surgical fear and anxiety experienced before surgery in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the cardiovascular surgery department of a training and research hospital between October 2023 and March 2024. The sample size of the study was determined as 169 patients. The data of the study were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Surgical Fear Scale, and the Beck Anxiety Scale. The data were collected by face-to-face interview method. Results: The total surgical fear scale mean score of patients scheduled for cardiac surgery was 31.9±14.6; the short-term fears sub-dimension mean score was 14.5±7.05, and the long-term fears sub-dimension mean score was 17.2±8.67. The patients' preoperative anxiety score mean was determined as 10.02±7.0, and it was observed that they experienced mild anxiety. Conclusion: This study concluded that patients scheduled for cardiac surgery experience moderate fear and mild anxiety. It is recommended that preoperative education be planned for patients undergoing cardiac surgery based on their needs and evidence.