The Effect of the Perceived Social Support on Surgical Fears of Pregnancy Decision for Cesarean: An Emergency Department Example

ObjectivesSurgical intervention is often an inevitable process in individuals’ lives and constitutes a significant source of stress not only physically but also psychologically. The fear and anxiety associated with surgery typically begin in the preoperative period, extend through the intraoperative phase, and may persist even after discharge. This situation directly affects patients’ adaptation to the surgical process and the speed of postoperative recovery, thereby significantly influencing both individuals’ quality of life and the overall effectiveness of healthcare services.MethodsThis cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted with 100 patients aged 18 years and older who had no communication problems and underwent elective surgery in the department of thoracic surgery. Participants completed a questionnaire consisting of a sociodemographic data form, the Surgical Fear Questionnaire (SFQ), and the Post-Discharge Recovery Scale (PDRS). Descriptive statistics were presented using frequencies, means, standard deviations, and minimum and maximum values. For variables with normal distribution, the independent samples t-test and Pearson correlation test were used for analysis. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsAmong the participants, 73.0% were male, 50.0% were primary school graduates, and 76.0% were married. The mean post-discharge recovery score of the study group was 55.4±14.5. Participants who were married, had no chronic illness, had a spouse as a caregiver, had two or fewer previous hospitalizations, and had undergone one or fewer previous surgeries had significantly higher post-discharge recovery scores (p=0.033, p=0.047, p=0.033, p=0.045, and p=0.008, respectively). Post-discharge recovery was moderately and negatively correlated with surgical fear (r=-0.400, p=0.034).ConclusionIn this study, the relationship between preoperative surgical fear levels and post-discharge recovery was evaluated, and a significant negative correlation was identified. The findings are consistent with previously reported results in the literature, supporting the notion that surgical fear may adversely affect the recovery process through both physiological and psychological mechanisms. According to the study results, patients who were married and received postoperative care from their spouses had higher levels of recovery. This suggests that social support—particularly spousal support—serves as an important protective factor during the surgical process. Additionally, individuals with chronic illnesses were found to have significantly lower levels of post-discharge recovery. This may be explained by the physiological burden of chronic diseases, their impact on the immune system, and challenges in treatment adherence. In summary, the study highlights that reducing surgical fear, strengthening social support systems, and improving chronic disease management may contribute positively to the postoperative recovery process.

Objective: The aim of this descriptive study was to determine the level of surgical fear and related factors in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Methods: The study sample consisted of 181 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty in a training and research hospital in Izmir. The data were collected between April 1 and September 1, 2023 via the “Patient Identification Form” and the “Surgical Fear Scale”. Descriptive statistics, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test and Spearman correlation analysis were used to evaluate the data. Results: The mean score on the Surgical Fear Scale was found to be 28.35 ± 16.89 (out of 80 points), indicating that the level of fear experienced by patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty was relatively low. The mean scores for the short-term and long-term fear subscale of the Surgical Fear Scale (16.10 ± 9.91 and 12.24 ± 9.44 out of 40, respectively) also indicated that the short-term and long-term fear levels were low. The factors associated with the level of surgical fear were found to be previous knee surgery history and type of anesthesia (p: .001). Conclusion: The study findings showed that patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty experienced low levels of fear and that previous knee surgery experience and type of anesthesia were associated with this fear. surgical fear levels.

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between cyberchondria, surgical fear and anxiety in patients undergoing oncological surgery. This descriptive study was conducted with 163 patients in the general surgery clinics of a university hospital in Türkiye between January and December 2023. The study revealed that mean total scores of cyberchondria, surgical fear and anxiety scales were moderate with values of 39.87 ± 12.66, 45.84 ± 19.80, and 28.83 ± 11.76, respectively. A moderately significant positive correlation was observed between cyberchondria and surgical fear and anxiety levels (r:0.688, and r:0.684; p = 0.000, respectively), while a strongly significant positive relationship was found between surgical fear and anxiety levels (r: 0.759, p = 0.000). The results also demonstrated that 47% of patients’ fear of surgery could be attributed to the independent variable of cyberchondria (R2: 0.470). The results demonstrated that 46% of the variance in anxiety levels could be attributed to the cyberchondria independent variable (R2: 0.468). The pervasive use of the internet has given rise to a growing tendency among individuals to seek disease-related information online. The study found that the patients exhibited moderate levels of cyberchondria, with an increase in the tendency corresponding to an increase in surgical fear and anxiety. It is recommended that healthcare professionals share detailed information with patients in a way that does not encourage them to engage in excessive online medical research and allocate sufficient time to patients to alleviate their surgical anxiety and fear.

BackgroundBariatric surgical tourism is a rapidly growing sector. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preoperative surgical fear, anxiety, and satisfaction levels regarding bariatric surgery tourism processes and to examine the relationships between these variables.MethodsThis descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between July and November 2024 with foreign patients who visited the general surgery clinic of a healthcare institution for bariatric surgery within the scope of health tourism. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Patient Information Form, Surgical Fear Scale, and Surgical Anxiety Scale. All results were evaluated within a 95% confidence interval, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 39.39 ± 9.35 years, and 88.5% were from the UK. Additionally, 88.5% reported choosing bariatric surgery tourism due to high surgical costs in their home country. The mean score for surgical fear was 37.68 ± 20.58, while the mean score for surgical anxiety was 19.53 ± 12.90. Patients who lacked prior knowledge about bariatric surgery tourism had significantly higher surgical fear and anxiety scores (p < 0.05). Age, fear and anxiety associated with undergoing surgery in a foreign country, and total surgical anxiety scale score were identified as independent predictors of patients’ satisfaction with their bariatric surgery tourism experience (R2 = 0.130; p < 0.01).ConclusionsPreoperative knowledge levels and satisfaction with the information provided significantly impacted surgical fear and anxiety levels among bariatric surgery tourism patients.

The effect of guided imagery pre-cesarean section on the perceived preoperative anxiety, surgical fear, and physiological parameters of women: A randomized controlled trial

Patient-reported Surgical Fear and DegreeofWorry on the Day of Surgery: Correlation, Predictors, and Implications for Patient-centered Care. A Mixed-methods Study.

Gonarthrosis is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterised by prolonged pain, affecting ~10% of men and 18% of women aged 60 and older worldwide. Surgical interventions are commonly employed in patients with gonarthrosis to minimise disability, alleviate pain, and improve overall quality of life. However, surgical treatment remains a feared experience. This study was conducted to identify the levels of spiritual well-being and surgical anxiety in elderly patients diagnosed with gonarthrosis who are scheduled for surgical intervention. The aim was to examine the relationship between these factors and identify influencing elements. This descriptive and correlational study was conducted between September 2022 and June 2023 in the orthopaedics and traumatology service of a state hospital, involving 105 patients aged 65 and above with gonarthrosis and admitted for treatment. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Surgical Fear Questionnaire, and Three-Factor Spiritual Well-being Scale. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistical tests, Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman correlation analysis. The short-term surgical fear of patients was 11.69 ± 7.55, the long-term surgical fear was 10.70 ± 9.53, and the total surgical fear was 22.40 ± 14.69 points, indicating a low level. Single and inexperienced elderly patients had higher levels of surgical fear (P < 0.05). The spiritual well-being levels of elderly patients (transcendence, 59.65 ± 12.20; harmony with nature, 29.10 ± 4.65; anomy, 26.34 ± 5.28; total score, 115.10 ± 17.83) were high. The spiritual well-being levels of elderly individuals whose income matched their expenses were higher (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant negative relationship between the level of anomy in elderly patients with gonarthrosis and surgical fear (P < 0.05). In elderly patients with planned surgical interventions for gonarthrosis. It was determined that the levels of surgical fear were low, and the levels of spiritual well-being were high. The study identified that the level of anomy had an impact on surgical fear. It is recommended that healthcare professionals be aware of the influence of spiritual well-being on surgical fear and provide spiritual support to elderly patients.

Does Preoperative Surgical Fear LevelAffect Breastfeeding?

PurposeThis research was conducted to determine the impact of a planned training program and music on fear, anxiety, and depression among women undergoing cesarean section.MethodsThe sample of the randomized-controlled experimental study consisted of a total of 120 pregnant women (music 40, training 40, and the control 40) scheduled for cesarean section at the Obstetrics Service. Instrumental music from the Turkish music modes (the Hejaz, Neva, and Acemaşıran modes) was played for the music group, a planned training was given for the training group (what a cesarean section is, why a cesarean section should be performed, breastfeeding, mobilization, etc.) before the cesarean section, and no additional interventions were made for the control group. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Surgical Fear Questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.ResultsAfter the planned training and listening to music applications, statistically significant differences were found between the music, training, and the control groups in terms of the short-term, long-term sub-scale scores and the overall score of the Surgical Fear Questionnaire and the anxiety sub-scale scores of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (p < 0.05).ConclusionsListening to music before the cesarean section was effective in reducing women’s short-term and general surgical fears, and the training was also effective in reducing their short-term, long-term, and general surgical fears and anxiety levels. However, the applications did not change depression levels. According to these findings, listening to music and provision of training are recommended to reduce surgical fears and anxiety levels of women before a planned cesarean section.

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Glasses on Surgical Fear and Anxiety in Patients Before Open-heart Surgery: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial

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.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of earthquake preparedness training on the psychological resilience and earthquake preparedness levels of mothers with physically disabled children. The study was conducted at a special education and rehabilitation center in a province in eastern Turkey between January and April 2024, using a pre-test/post-test control group experimental design. A total of 78 mothers participated, with 39 randomly assigned to the experimental group and 39 to the control group. The experimental group received earthquake preparedness training. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. It was determined that 38.5% of the mothers in the experimental group were between 32–39 years of age, equal numbers of primary (35.9%) and secondary (35.9%) school graduates, 84.6% had nuclear families and 89.7% lived in urban areas. In the control group, 38.5% of the mothers were between 25–31 years of age, 33.3% were primary school graduates, 79.5% had nuclear families and 97.4% lived in urban areas. The experimental and control groups were similar in terms of baseline characteristics. Before the training, Adult Psychological Resilience Scale (APRS) scores were comparable between groups. After the training, the experimental group showed a significant increase in psychological resilience compared to the control group (p < .05). Similarly, Disaster Preparedness Scale (DPS) scores were comparable before the training, but the experimental group showed a significant increase in earthquake preparedness after the training (p < .05). The training enhanced both psychological resilience and earthquake preparedness in mothers, increasing their knowledge and awareness about earthquakes. Developing earthquake preparedness training and materials specifically for families with physically disabled children will contribute to the safety and well-being of both families and their children.

Background:Patients undergoing open heart surgery may experience negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, panic, and anger in the preoperative period that may negatively affect their postoperative recovery.Purpose:This study was designed to compare the effects of preoperative fear and anxiety on postoperative pain and complications in a referral group and on a non-referral group.Methods:This descriptive study was conducted at a cardiovascular surgery hospital in Turkey from July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, on 96 patient participants. The referral group (n = 48) comprised patients who were diagnosed in another hospital and received cardiovascular surgery at our hospital, while the non-referral group (n = 48) comprised patients who received their angiography and cardiovascular surgery in our hospital. A Personal Information Form, Surgical Fear Questionnaire, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory were administered to all of the participants in the preoperative period. In the postoperative period, pain levels were determined using the Visual Analog Scale, and complications were recorded.Results:No statistically significant difference were found in the overall occurrence of complications between the two groups (p > .05). However, those in the referral group who developed lung-related complications exhibited significantly higher levels of surgical fear (p < .05). No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of length of stay in the intensive care unit, length of intubation, length of mobilization, length of hospitalization, pain levels, or mean anxiety and surgical fear scores (p > .05). A significantly positive relationship was observed between anxiety and surgical fear levels in both groups (p < .05).Conclusions/Implications for Practice:The results indicate neither the timing of surgical treatment decision nor preoperative fear and anxiety are associated with postoperative pain and certain complications. However, a significant relationship was detected between preoperative anxiety and surgical fear. No relationship between the way patients are taken to surgery and levels of anxiety and surgical fear or postoperative complications was found. The literature should be further expanded by conducting different studies on this subject.

Objective: The study aimed to examine the relationship between preoperative surgical fear and pain beliefs and pain scores recorded in the first 24 hours after surgery. Method: A descriptive and correlational research design was employed in the study. The study included 292 surgical patients who underwent surgery in the general surgery clinic of a training and research hospital. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Patient Identification Form, Visual Analog Scale-Pain, Pain Beliefs Questionnaire, and Surgical Fear Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program. Results: In the first 24 hours after surgery, the patients' mean pain and surgical fear level scores were found to be low, and the mean pain beliefs subscale scores were found to be moderate. A significant correlation was found between patients' pain level and surgical fear mean scores (r=.28, p

In our study, we examined the effect of perceived social support on psychological resilience and surgical fear in surgical oncology patients. This study was performed with 139 patients planning to have surgery at the oncology unit of a research and practice hospital in Turkey. The Personal Information Form, the Multi-Dimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Surgical Fear Questionnaire were used in the data collection process. Of all surgical oncology patients participating in our study, 51.8% were aged 45–64 years, 60.4% were male, 41.7% were diagnosed with a malignancy in the last 4–7 months, 66.9% had comorbidities alongside the malignancy, and 21.6% had colorectal tumors whilst 20.1% had malignant tumors in the liver. Surgical oncology patients’ psychological resilience had statistically significant relationships with their surgical fear and perceived social support (p = 0.000). It was determined that the independent variable of perceived social support explained 59% of the total variance (R2 = 0.593, p = 0.000) in the resilience dependent variable and 35% of the variance in the surgical fear dependent variable (R2 = 0.353, p = 0.000). The increase in perceived social support of surgical oncology patients increases their psychological resilience. The increasing psychological resilience of the patients and the increase in perceived social support also reduce their fear of surgery. In this context, it is recommended that patients who will undergo oncological surgery should increase their social support in the early period and take initiatives to increase their psychological resilience.