Background: Anxiety during the preoperative period is the most common problem with a number of postoperative complications such as an increase in postoperative pain, delay of healing and prolong the hospital stay. Further, patients with a high level of preoperative anxiety require higher doses of anesthetic agents and recover poorly. Despite its serious health complications, its magnitude and associated factors have been poorly explored in Ethiopia particularly in the selected study areas.
Objective: To assess preoperative anxiety and associated factors among adult surgical patients in Debre Markos and Felege Hiwot Referral Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia.
Method: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on 353 patients scheduled for surgery using a systematic random sampling technique. The data were collected using the state version of the state-trait anxiety inventory scale. All collected data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and analysis was done by using SPSS version 20 software. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the effect of independent variables on the dependent variable. A p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results: Overall, 61% (95%CI (55.5-65.7)) patients had significant high level of preoperative anxiety. The most common reported factor responsible for preoperative anxiety was fear of complications 187(52.4%). There was a statistically significant high level of pre-operative anxiety among female patients [AOR 2.19 (95%CI (1.29-3.71))] and patients who lack preoperative information [AOR 2.03(95%CI (1.22-3.39))].
Conclusion: The prevalence of preoperative anxiety was high. The level of preoperative anxiety significantly associated with sex, preoperative information provision, and previous surgical experience. Preoperative psychosocial assessment should be incorporated into a routine nursing practice and every patient should be provided with preoperative information before surgery.
Keywords: Anxiety; Ethiopia; Major surgery; Preoperative anxiety.