Preoperative anxiety and associated factors among adult surgical patients in public hospitals, eastern Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of preoperative anxiety and associated factors among adult surgical patients in public hospitals of eastern Ethiopia from 25 April to 26 May 2022. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was undertaken using a systematic sampling technique among 423 participants from patients eligible for elective surgery. The prevalence of preoperative anxiety was assessed using the state and trait anxiety inventory measurement scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive and summary statistics were computed. Binary and multivariable logistic regression were computed. The strength of the association was presented using an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of preoperative anxiety among patients scheduled for elective surgery was 51.2%. Being 31–45 aged adult (AOR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.17, 0.78), having moderate (AOR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.22, 0.96) and strong social support (AOR = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.08), being single (AOR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.04, 0.89), listening to music (AOR = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.18, 0.74) and finding social and religious support (AOR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.07, 0.33), and orthopedic surgery (AOR = 0.21; 95% CI = 0.10, 0.43) were significantly associated with lower odds of preoperative anxiety, whereas having fear of death (AOR = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.64, 2.09) was significantly associated with increased odds of preoperative anxiety. CONCLUSION: In the current study, the magnitude of preoperative anxiety was high. Being an older adult and having social and treatment support was associated with lower odds of preoperative anxiety. In contrast, lower psychological readiness (fear of death) was associated with increased odds of preoperative anxiety. Patients should be routinely assessed for anxiety during the preoperative appointment, and the proper coping mechanisms and anxiety-reduction approaches should be used. It is also advisable that appropriate policies and procedures for reducing preoperative anxiety should be devised