The effects of surgery type on pretreatment distress and negative expectations in women scheduled for gynecologic surgery

Abstract

e20562 Background: Most women with gynecologic cancer must undergo surgery as part of their treatment. Research suggests that laparoscopic surgery may lead to fewer side effects and faster recovery than laparotomy. Clinically, however, it is unclear if these benefits have led to decreased levels of emotional distress in patients prior to the procedure and/or to reduced expectations of negative side effects. The purpose of the present study was to assess and compare levels of emotional distress and expectations for postoperative discomfort and pain in women scheduled for either laparoscopic gynecological procedures, or laparotomy. Methods: Fifty-nine women scheduled for gynecologic surgery (mean age = 52.0 years) were recruited to this study. The dependent variables, pretreatment emotional distress and expectations of postoperative pain and discomfort, were assessed in the clinic with a numeric rating scales (0–10) prior to surgery. The independent variable, surgery type, was categorized into: minor laparoscopic, major laparoscopic, and laparotomy. Results: Univariate analyses revealed that mean distress levels between minor laparoscopic (x = 3.4), major laparoscopic (x = 4.2) and laparotomy (x = 3.8) did not differ (p>.1), nor did expectations of pain or discomfort (p's>.1). Demographic variables (age, race, education, marital status) did not show bivariate relationships with pre-surgical distress or expectations and therefore were not controlled for in the models. Conclusions: Based on the present results, the benefits of laparoscopic gynecologic surgery do not appear to affect patients’ levels of pretreatment distress or expectations of negative outcomes. The results suggest that women undergoing even minor gynecologic surgery may benefit from interventions to reduce preoperative distress, which has been shown to be a risk factor for increased postoperative side effects. No significant financial relationships to disclose.