The Effect of Environmental Stressors Perceived by Oncology Patients in the Operating Room on Postoperative Anxiety Levels: Descriptive Research

Objective: This study aims to examine the effects of environmental stressors perceived by oncology patients in the operating room on postoperative anxiety levels. Material and Methods: The study will be conducted with cancer patients who are receiving treatment at the Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit of İzmir Bakırçay University Çiğli Training and Research Hospital who have undergone surgical procedures and who meet the inclusion criteria. The sample size of the study was calculated using the power analysis method. The study data will be collected face-to-face using the ''individual information form'', ''Spielberg State Anxiety Scale'', and ''Spielberg Trait Anxiety Scale'' within 6 months after receiving ethics committee approval. The time it takes for individuals to fill out the forms is approximately 10 minutes. Results: The Spielberg Trait Anxiety Scale scores were compared according to the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients. According to the results obtained, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between the patient's gender, education, profession, social security, chronic disease, surgical experience, the first thing they noticed when entering the operating room, the feeling they experienced when entering the operating room, the situation that stressed them when entering the operating room, the type of cancer, the stage of cancer and the treatments they received for cancer and the Spielberg Trait Anxiety Scale scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study identified that the sterile and impersonal nature of the operating room, combined with unfamiliar sights and sounds, can trigger heightened anxiety levels, making the surgical experience more difficult for patients to handle.