Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study to evaluate the anxiety and expectancy among parents of children undergoing surgery in the multi-centric surgery units.
Methods: Following approval from the ethics committee, a questionnaire was given to the parents of 123 children who were undergoing surgery in the multi-centric surgery units. The parents were informed that their answers would not affect the care given to their children. The questionnaire was evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I and STAI-II).
Results: The STAI results indicated that the parents’ anxiety level increased before their children underwent surgery. In addition, there was a negative correlation between STAI-II scores and high levels of wealth (p= 0.004). Also, those with steady employment and higher levels of education had lower anxiety levels and difference was significant (p=0.001). The state anxiety levels were unaffected by family income and education, but the trait anxiety levels decreased with increasing income and education. Mothers were less anxious if their child had undergone surgery in the past, while this result was not significant statistically (p>0.05). Parents were most commonly concerned with possible complications from the surgery and/or anesthesia.
Conclusion: Results of our study indicate that parents of children undergoing surgery that have steady employment, to be informed, previously has been administered anesthesia or surgery, high level of wealth and education was observed less anxiety than others.