Anxiety assessment in orthopedic patients

ABSTRACT

Orthopedic specialty is a very versatile specialty, it deals with a wide variety of conditions like degenerative joint disorder, deformities of spine and limbs, including congenital and acquired both, bones and joint infections and of course traumatology which is a major part of orthopedic patient. We did a study to assess pre operative anxiety in orthopedic patients. All the patients above the age of 12 years, admitted to orthopedic unit II of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, were asked to fill a performa designed to assess different aspects of anxiety- associated problem. The subjects were also inquired about their knowledge of imminent surgery being, its out come and the time period required to get back to their daily activities. Fifty eight percent of patients were anxious about their upcoming surgery, They were anxious due to different reasons like surgery. anesthesia, pain, the risk of complications and of becoming dependent on others. Our study showed a significant proportion of orthopedic patients undergoing surgery as being anxious. In this regard, social and occupational therapist can play a major role in reducing the anxiety of our patients by doing detailed counseling and making the patients maximally aware of their surgery