RESUMO
PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effect of internet information pollution on levels of surgical fear among patients undergoing surgery. DESIGN: Observational study. METHODS: This study was conducted with 407 patients scheduled for surgery in the surgical wards of a university hospital. Data were collected preoperatively using a patient information form, the Internet Information Pollution Scale, and the Surgical Fear Questionnaire. FINDINGS: A very weak positive correlation was found between total internet information pollution score and total surgical fear score (r = 0.184; P < .001). In regression analysis of the impact of internet information pollution on total surgical fear score, the regression model was significant (F = 13.183; P < .001), with 2.9% of the total change in surgical fear score explained by the total internet information pollution score (R2 = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the information pollution surgical patients encounter on the internet may increase their surgical fear. We recommend directing patients to reliable information sources and attempting to control unreliable data sources to prevent online information pollution and reduce patients' surgical fear.
