relationship between pre-operative anxiety and post operative pain

ABSTRACT

A correlational study was conducted to investigate the relationship between preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain among patients undergoing abdominal surgery. A sample of 50 patients [29 males and 21 females] were included in the study. Data were collected through the use of a modified Taylor anxiety test to measure preoperative anxiety level, and a modified McGill pain questionnaire to measure postoperative pain level. The study tested two major hypotheses. Firstly, a positive relationship between preoperative anxiety level and postoperative pain was detected, secondly, a significant difference in the correlation coefficient between preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain regarding age and sex of patients was presented. The major results of the study supported the first hypothesis, as well as the second hypothesis regarding to sex of patients but not in relation to age of patients. The study concluded that the higher the preoperative anxiety level, the higher the post- operative pain level among patients undergoing abdominal surgery. The study emphasized the role of the nurse as an educator and as a counsellor to prepare patients preoperatively